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Class 1"^ >h ;• -J' 
Book. ,:3.? ^ n ^., 
Copyright N"_J:1..51_ 

COFOsIGIfT DEPosrr. 



HISTORY OF 
313th U. S. INFANTRY 



HISTORY 

OF 

313th U. S. INFANTRY 

■"Baltimore's Own" 



Henry C. Thorn, Jr. 
Formerly 1st Lieut. Sl'Mh Infantry 



Printed by 
WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRA\YFORD COMPANY 

Printers (^ Binders 

80 Lafayette Street, New York 

Price $1.75 per Copy, Postpaid 



Pul)lisher's Note ^ \^ 



This, the oflicial History of the 313th Infantry, "Baltimore's Own." is 
pulilished by autliority of its ((irninaiuliiif,' (ifricer. and the connnandpr of the 
J\lonlfaiK-on Post -No. 10, American Lef,'ion, who issued the following an- 
nouncements: 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

Tlip \V v!\Koop ITallenbei K Crawfoud Company has been authorized to publish 
the only olliiial History of the .'Si:!th Infantry, which will contain in accurate text and 
pictures the achievements of the Hefjiuienl — its traininfj. its overseas service, its return 
lidine and deiiKjbilization. 

Ml nieinbers of the 313th are assured that this History will, in every way. be a worthy 
volume, and all are ur^ed to secure a copy of what will be a record of one of the most 
inlercstinj; chapters in their life's history. 

C. B. SWEEZEY. 

December 1 .■>, UH9. Farmirty ('olorirt. .'ilSlh Infiiiilry. 

MONTFALiCUN I'UST 
American Legion 

The official History of your 313lh Infantry, written by 1st Lieutenant H. C. Thorn, 
■Ir.. is now on press. It is a book si/e aliout Kxll inches, bound in full maroon cloth. 
stam|icd in silver and blue, endiodvint; tlie flivisional insignia, the Lorraine Cross, with 
lid pajjes. 18 pholosraijhic illustrations and 2 maps — Citations of the Regt-Ceneral 
(jrders, etc. 

fiy arrangement with Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co.. the put)lishers of this 
official History of "Baltimore's Own." a pen cut age from the sale of each book will be 
turned over to Monffaucon I'ost No. 10. Aujerican Lct;i(]n, liaUimore. 

Every member of the Regiment, and all those «ho at one time or another were con- 
nected with it, should have this book. No one can all'ord to be without it. 

CH\S. \. LEIDLICH. 
Dec<-mber 26, 191'). CnninidiidiT. 

Tlie publishers undertook this work in \ icw of the interest and enthusiasm 
evinced by the officers and men of the 313th Infantry, and upon assurances 
of co-operation and support from them, that there would be a substantial 
demand from them for a book giving in text and in picture the accomplish- 
ments of the Regiment. 

It is a pleasure to acknowledge witii appreciation the co-operatinu of all 
those wiio have made its issuance possible, espiMialK : 

Cl.\ude B. Sweezey, (Uibniel. ('.(ihiukiikHikj Officer 3 1 3th Inf. 
Ch.\s. a. Leidlich, (Aiinwander. Mi>iilfaiic(iii Post Ao. 'lO. 

Anipricaii Li'ijinn. 
Henry C. Thorn, Jr.. IsI Lieiileiuinl. 
\V. Rus.SELL MuLE.'S. Finance Officer. Moiilfaucon Pfw/. 

VVYMvOOP HALLKNBEC.K (.RAWFOHD CO. 

.luniiarv 30, 1020. 



Copyright 1920 t)y \N'ynkoup Halleiiljeck. ('.rawruni Co. 



FEB 28 1920 
©C!.Ao65143 



Contents 

Page 
Chapter I. Forming of Regiment — Ofiicers and Men Report — 

Training Starts 11 

II. Changes in Personnel 14 

III. Review by Secretary of War — More Training — 

C'olors — Parade in Baltimore 15 

IV. Camp at Rifle Range 17 

\'. Leaving Camp Meade — Trip Aboard Leviathan — 
Brest — Rail to IiitiM'ior — Champlitte — More Train- 
ing — Trip to the Front 18 

^ I. In the Trenehes — Raided by the Germans — Relieved — 

Preparations for Drive to Start 23 

^ II. Moiilfaucim and the First and Second Days ... 27 

\III. Montfaucon — From Beginning Third Day Until 

Relieved 35 

IX. Troyon Sector — March to \ erdun — Start to Relieve 

26th Division \(Mth of Verdun 38 

X. Cote-de-Roches— Hill 360— Death Valley .... 44 

XI. Capture of Hill 378 by 2d Bat. 313th Inf.— Continuing 
with 1st Bat. to Claire Chene Trenches — Reville is 
Occupied 46 

XII. Fighting until II A.M.. 11 Nov., 1918— The Vrmistice 50 

XIII. Holding the Old Lines — Relieved — \ erdun .Vgain — 

Christmas 51 



Page 

XIV. Wintering in Erize, La Brullee. Seigneulles, Conde, etc. 

March to Lafauche. Inspected by Gen. Pershing . 54 

XV. Cholet and Mortagne — Board Transports at St. 

Nazaire 56 

XVI. Homeward Bound in Paysandn and Antigone — New- 
port News — Baltimore — The Great Parade — Camp 
Meade — Demobilized and Begiment Passes into 
History 60 

Appendix. Awards — General Orders — Station List of 2d Bat. in 

France 65 

Story of the 79th Div. Insignia 71 



List of Illustrations 

Page 

( "nlniifl Swopzey 10 

Murphy— G Co.'s Mascot 17 

(Iroup of ( XViceis in ( lluiiiiplitfc 21 

Liiif Diawing of Moiitfaiicon, etc 24 

Soction of \ crdiiii. a Map iMonllaiiroii) 28 

.)iiiiip Olf 'rrcnches 29 

i\o-Man's Land 30 

Montfaucoti 31 

\ iinv from Mdiitfauciin 32 

German Ohscrvalorv in MontfaiHM in 34 

( Icne ral Nicholson and ( )fru('rs 37 

Troy. m SiMtor— The Hills 39 

l^tigouts in Troyon Sector 41 

Map of Hill ;578. etc 47 

Standing Retreat — Cholet 56 

Major l':iiiott and His OHicers aTid Sergeants 58 

Headquarters Company at Cholet 58 

Color-Sergeant Leidlicli witli ( (ilois and Headquarters Co. at Newport 

News 60 

(^.ol. Sweezey Watching Debarkation 61 

Parade in Baltimore .In ne It h. 101 () 62 



Foreword 

THE following history of the 313th l\ S. Infantry was written in France 
by order of Colonel Sweezey pursuant to instructions received from the 
Commanding General of the 79th Division, being completed after returning 
to the 1 nited States. It is necessarily brief but records the principal events 
in the career of the Regiment from its inception in August of 1917 until 
demobilized in June 1919. 

It is the story of an organization and, therefore, practically no reference 
is made to individual exploits or achievements. Reference is only made to 
other units where the 313th Infantry is directly concerned, and absolutely 
no criticisms ai'e intended in any way. 

Acknowledgment is hereby made to Colonel Sweezey and the other 
officers and men for their heljjful suggestions and criticisms, especially to 
Major John Elliott, for without the aid of his diary, carefully and accurately 
written (often under the most adverse conditions in the field), very many 
important details would necessarily have been overlooked. 

H. C. T., Jr. 







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Coliilii'l ChlUilr H. Siirr:rv 



CHAPTER I 






HEN the 79th Division was formed, in August, 1917, 
the 313th Infantry of the 157th Brigade came into 
being. Colonel Claude B. Sweezey, a West Pointer, 
with nearly thirty years' service in the Regular Army, 
was placed in command. Lieut. -Colonel Frederick R. 
Brown, also a West Pointer, was assigned to assist him 
in the difTicult task of organizing the Regiment out of 
the raw material. The Colonel, who had been the 
senior instructor at the first Officers" Training Camp 
at Fort Niagara, was practically given a free hand in 
the ciioosing of his officers. He selected most of them from the cavalry troop, his 
own branch of the service. A number of 1st Ueutenants from the 1th Company, 
Infantry, were also chosen. 

On August 29th. the officers reported. Major Benjamin Franklin Pepper, a 
prominent lawyer of Philadi-lphia, was given command of the 2d Battalion; Major 
Jesse R. Langley of Pittsburgh, the 3d Battalion. Later Major Pat M. Stevens, an 
officer of the Regular Army, whcj had been Brigade Adjutant, took command of 
the 1st Battalion. Captain, later Major, H. Nelson Jackson, of the Medical 
Reserve Corps, was placed in charge of the Sanitary Detachment. Captain John 
Elliott was appointed Regimental Adjutant. Captain John E. Hughes, long a 1st 
Sergeant of the 6th U. S. Cavalry, was placed in charge of the Supply Company. 

The great cantonment of Camp Meade had not yet been completed and none 
of the men of the selective draft was to report for some time. Consequently there 
was little for the officers to do. In order that all might keep hands in, however, 
close order drills, tactical walks, etc., were instituted. 

Finally, on September 29th. the first men from Baltimore arrived. Some men 
from the 3d Training Battahon had been assigned to the Regiment September 
27th. These men came from Garrett and Carroll Counties, followed on October 
6th by more men from Baltimore. The latter were met by the newly formed 
Regimental Band, which was energetically, if somewhat in need of practice, playing 
"Maryland, My Maryland." Mr. Louis H. Fisher, Jr., who later became its leader 
and eventually was commissioned a 2d Heutenant. came down to Camp as a civilian 
before he was certified for service. He had been an orchestra leader of note in 
Baltimore and was of invaluable assistance. A further draft of men from Balti- 
more and the counties reported was on November 5th. 

Things were beginning to look more military. Equipment and uniforms, as 
far as possible and as fast as possible, were issued and the throes of typhoid inocu- 
lations, vaccinations, etc., were gone through. Service and a dozen other records 
were started and the serious business of training began. The men, a number of 



12 II I ST () in OF :U :5 th 1 . S. I \ F a N T H V 

whom came to Camp Meade with visions of beinj; ill-treated, nearly starved, and 
thrown into the Guard House for the least offence, were gradually beginning to 
realize that, while they had to forego some of the comforts of home, things were 
not so bad after all. The work was hard, but it was a great satisfaction to discover 
that the complex maneuver of "squads right" could be mastered after all. The 
spirit of rivalry was soon noticed, too, as all knew that those who seemed to be 
best qualified would be picked out to act as corporals and sergeants and secure 
their warrants eventually if they made good. The passing of the weeks showed a 
remarkable difference in the set-up of the men. The hard, outdoor life, with its 
drills and setting-up exercises, combined with good hours and wholesome, if some- 
what plain, food made everyone feel good. 

On account of the great number of men from Baltimore, the Regiment was 
beginning to be known as ""Baltimore's Own." and on October 25th they entrained 
to Baltimore to march in the Liberty Loan Parade. Although unarmed, the men 
marched so well that it was hard to believe that a few short weeks before, prac- 
tically everyone had been a civilian with no military training whatever. The 
Regiment made such an impression that a number of officers and non-commissioned 
officers were asked to undertake the task of teaching men, who would shortly be 
inducted, the rudim(>nts of close order drills and the manual of arms. These 
men saw what an advantage it would be to have some knowledge of such things 
and drills became weekly affairs at the ,5th Reghnent Armory in Baltimore. 

The operation of tlie draft law necessitated a great shifting of men to fill the 
various organizations of the National Guard and Regular Army to war strength. 
Consequently it was not long before batches were being sent to southern camps, 
and small detachments were later sent overseas as replacements. During this 
period of training new men kept coming in in small and large detachments. They 
were usually greeted loudly with all sorts of advice and raillery from the veterans 
of a few weeks or months as they marched in. It was interesting to see how 
quickly the average man changed his ideas from those of the civilian to those of 
the soldier. 

Everything wasn"t entirely comfortable, however, as the Regiment had its 
share of measles and this meant a long cjuaranline for the companies where cases 
were discovered, and no week-end passes to visit home and friends. One company 
even had the misfortune to be put in quarantine just as the men were to have 
started on the Christmas leave. 

Early in the winter, which will long be remembered for its severeness, an 
elaborate system of trenches was started. The men dug away with a will and the 
ground soon began to look like the battlefields of Europe. Practice marches were 
also instituted and the battaUons hiked over the surrounding country, first only 
with rifles, but later, when packs were issued, the troops began to get used to the 
load they'd soon be carrying a good part of the time. The light pack seemed 
heavy and uncomfortable at first, and few realized how much heavier loads they'd 
carry, more or less easily, before their army days were over. 

It was not all physical work, for every afternoon non-commissioned oflicers' 
school was held in each mess-hall under the supervision of a Com|iaii> Officer. 



H I S T ( ) H V () F :'. I :'. T H IS. I \ F \ \ T H 't i:? 

Here the various problems and instructions were given in nearly all things it was 
necessary for the corporals and sergeants to know and impai-t to the men under 
them. The officers also had school at night under the battalion commanders. 
Officers and N. C. O.'s were sent to the Division Schools under French, British 
and American officers. Here practical instruction in grenades, auto-rifles, gas- 
defense, field fortifications, etc., were given and the students later gave the benefit 
of their instruction to the other officers and men of their companies. 

Gradually blue-jeans disappeared from the drill fields, and the few Rrag rifles 
were eventually replaced with the new U. S. Model 1917 rifles. The men set to 
work getting familiar with all parts of the gun and its care, for the new target range 
was soon to be available for shooting. A bayonet course, with trenches, and obstacles 
of various kinds, had been constructed by the men of the Regiment and many 
strenuous hours were spent in running, climbing and stabbing the Boche hung in 
the frames. The bayonet, one of the principal weapons of the infantryman, was 
gone into extensively, for not only was it a wonderfully efficient means of tough- 
ening the body, but it helptnl to inculcate the fighting spirit that lies more or less 
dormant in every man. 



CHAPTER II 




L'RINC the entire period of training, the personnel of 
the Regiment kept changing from time to time, due 
to the drafts sent to other camps, and to the new men 
wlio kept arriving all the time. A great number of 
the original men remained and they furnished a large 
percentage of the non-commissioned officers. 

In February, a call for cavalry officers was sent 
out by the War Department and many company com- 
manders and lieutenants left to officer the National 
Army cavalry regiments that were to be formed. To 
fill the vacancies, a number of officers who had been graduated from the second 
Officers" Training Camp, and a large group from the :5Tth Division were attached 
for duty. Later a few of these were assigned to the Regiment. The same field 
officers that were originally assigned stayed with the Regiment, with the exception 
of Major Stevens, who was assigned to the Division Trains and his place filled by 
the assignment of Major Israel Putnam. 

Captain Rurgwin. of Company E, and Captain Rutterworth. of Company F, 
were assigned to the Regiment at the close of the fourth Officers' Training Camp 
at Camp Meade. Roth of these officers had been instructors at the second Niagara 
Camp and had been candidates at the first Niagara Camp. 



CHAPTER III 




HE training schedule was varied from time to time by 
ceremonies sucJi as Battalion and Regimental Parades 
and Reviews. On December 22d, the Secretary of 
\\ ar reviewed the entire Division. Shortly afterwards, 
the 157th Brigade was reviewed by the Serbian Mili- 
tary Commission. The 313th Infantry took part in 
both and made a very creditable showing considering 
the number of men who had been in the service only 
a matter of a few weeks. 

It was decided in December that, on account of 
the great support that Baltimore was giving the Regiment, and also owing to the 
fact that it was the only all Maryland Regiment in the Army, it would be a 
good idea for the officers as a body to express their appreciation to the people of 
Raltimore by giving an entertainment of some sort. Consequently a dinner dance 
was given at the Hotel Belvedere in Baltimore on January 16, 1918. General 
Nicholson, Colonel Sweezey. and practically all the officers were present. Many 
of their wives acted as hostesses. Music was furnished by the Regimental Band. 
It was a brilhant affair in every way and will long be remembered by both the 
officers and the people of Baltimore. 

Early in the winter prehminary rifle practice was held on the bayonet course; 
and in March the Regiment went to the big range daily for about a week. Here 
the real work of shooting was begun. Some surprisingly good scores were made 
and none doubted that, with a little more experience on the part of the men, the 
Germans would find it healthier to keep their heads down below their parapets. 

About the middle of March, the weather having moderated considerably, the 
Regiment packed up for a night in the field. The battalions moved out in a long 
column followed by the trains, machine guns, etc., and pitched shelter camp a few 
miles from the barracks. After supper that day, all hands gathered around an 
enormous camp fire and sang songs and told stories. The band gave a concert, 
and later in the evening General Kuhn visited the camp. Colonel Sweezey re- 
quested the General to say a few words to the officers and men, and the (Jeneral 
replied by telling a few of the things the Regiment would ex-jierience in France, 
and further stated his confidence in the organization. He said that he had plenty 
of opportunity to observe the Regiment under all conditions — due largely to the 
fact that the Regimental block was right near the Division Headquarters, and that 
he was proud to have the 313th Infantry under his command. When taps sounded 
all crawled into their tents: but sleeping was difficult, for the night was pretty cold. 
The next morning after camp had been struck, there was a Regimental drill 
followed by an attack problem which General Nicholson witnessed. Then came a 
hard hike home by a roundabout route. The sun came out very hot and the men 



16 11 IS TO in OF 3 13th U.S. INFANTRY 

were very tired, not. a lew (irup[)iiig out. It was a great experience, however, and 
was a taste of what might be expected in the days that were to come. 

On April 3d, the citizens of Alleghany County presented the Regiment with a 
set of colors, which the Colonel accepted with the Regiment lined up in back of 
him. After the ceremony of presentation was over, the Regiment passed in review. 

The next day the great march of concentration for the defence of Baltimore 
from the "invasion of the Huns," who were assumed to be landing on the coast 
after having defeated our navy, commenced. That night the 313th Infantry en- 
camped on the hill-tops of Shipley overlooking Baltimore in the distance. Early 
the next morning the camp was broken and a long column of marching men entered 
Baltimore with bands playing and colors flying. Fnthusiastic crowds lined the 
sidewalks as the troops marched to the various parks where they were to encamp. 
The 313th Infantry proceeded to Druid Hill Park and pitched a shelter tent camp, 
and all that day and the next there was a swarm of visitors, all displaying great 
interest in everything. The kitchens seemed to especially attract the women folks. 

On April 6th the Regiment paraded through the streets of Baltimore as the 
first unit in tlie long Divisional Column and passed in review before the President 
of the United States, being the first unit he had ever seen of the National Army. 
Tlie next day the Regiment made the long march from Druid Hill Park to Camp 
Meade without one single man falling out en route. This was a truly remarkable 
feat and showed the pride that the men had in their organization, for it was hard 
sledding for some during the last mile or miles, especially so as many of their com- 
rades from the other regiments were sitting alongside the road with tags on them 
entitling them to be picked up by the ambulances that followed in the rear. 

On April 19th the fourth Officers' Training Camp turned out 53 members of the 
Regiment, who had ciualified as 2d lieutenants, these men having been selected from 
a few of the various companies of the Regiment. Later they were commissioned and 
assigned to the Regiment which they had joined as privates a few months before. 

On May 1st, the Regiment held a military field day. It was the first event 
of its kind in the cantonment and many guests were present. An additional 
interest was the ball game between the Regimental Team and the Baltimore 
Orioles. The soldiers showed they knew how to play ball by defeating the visiting 
team 10 to 1. Lieutenant Lavin. of G Company, an ex-L'niversity of Pennsylvania 
star, coached the team. 

Following the ball game there were boxing bouts and athletic events, prizes 
for which had been presented by the officers and several Baltimore mercliants. 
The Supply Company won the silver cup. Regimental Championship in team events, 
winning the rescue and centipede races and taking second place in the shelter tent 
race and third in the tug of war. Company I was second in the total number of 
points scored. 

There were also mounted events and grenade throwing contests. The Machine 
Gun Co. gave an exhibition of a ''going into action" inter-section competition. 

In the evening the guests were entertained at the different messes for supper. 
A dance for the enlisted men was held in the K. of C. auditorium. Dancing stopped 
at 9.1.5, when a special train conveyed tlie visitors back to Baltimore. 



CHAPTER IV 




' URING the last weeks in May the Regiment marched 
to the Rifle Range and pitched camp for two weeks. 
No field officers accompanied it and Captain R. W. J. 
Flynn. of A Company, senior line captain, was in 
command at the camp. Here the men had plenty (jf 
opportunity to fire their rifles and from early morning 
until evening the firing kept up. Very few regiments 
could hope to get a better opportunity to practice with 
their cliief weapon than the 313th Infantry had. It 
was here, too, that the new light Rrowning rifle, with 
which the 79th Division had just been equipped, was given a thorough try out. 
No other division in the Army, either at home or abroad, had been so equipped. 

No history of the Regiment would be complete without mentioning '" Murphy," 
a small brown pup, that joined G Company on the range. This dog, called 
"Michael," or "Mike," in spite of being a she, was carefully fed and nursed in 
the kitchen and later went overseas with the Regiment with an identity disk around 
her neck and 313th stenciled on her sides. She grew up and was with the Regiment 
in all its engagements, sticking close to G Company's kitchen. She experienced 
shell-fire and at times had to be smothered in a blanket to avoid being gassed. 
The following February, in France, she gave birth to two recruits called "\ erdun" 
and "Montfaucon," both of whom foUowed a military career. 




The "Dog i/J Wur" llial uriil Overseas wi!h llie Heginieiil, 

teas in all its Engagements (being attached to G Co.'s 

Kitchen) and altlwugh once stigldly uoiinded 

returned with the Troops to Camp Meade 



CHAPTER V 




HILE the Regiment was still in camp at the Rifle Range, 
word was received that the Battalion Tonimanders and 
a number of officers and non-commissioned officers 
from the battalions were to be prepared to leave for 
overseas on very short notice. Naturally rumors of 
an early sailing soon became rife, and it was not long 
after the Regiment returned from the Range that the 
drill schedule was called oiT and everyone started def- 
inite preparations for leaving. These were exception- 
ally busy times, as new equipment throughout was 
issued: boxes and crates were made and packed; and all necessary paper work, 
such as passenger lists, prepared and gone over. Camp Meade was always filled 
with visitors on week-ends, but never were there such crowds as assembled there 
duiing the last week-ends in June. Everyone knew that the Regiment would soon 
be leaving, but the exact date was only known to those higher up. Large drafts 
of replacements were received from Camp Ifpton — men with only a few weeks' 
training — and the Regiment brought up to war strength. 

On June 2ath the advance school detachment left and at 6 P. M. on Friday, 
July 5th. Colonel Sweezey and his stall and the 1st Battalion entrained at Admiral, 
arriving in Jersey City the next morning. The balance of the Regiment, under 
Lieut.-Colonel Brown, left Camp Meade at the same hour the next evening. From 
the railroad terminal at Jersey City the troops were loaded on ferry-boats and 
then taken up the North River to the ex-German piers. Cpon disembarking, they 
were niarch(>d to the pier where the huge Naval Transport. Leriathan was 
loading. On the pier the Red Cross furnished all with sandwiches and buns and 
then each ofllcer and man was carefully checked as he boarded the vessel. Once 
aboard there was no going on to the pier again for any reason. R averaged about 
18 minutes per company to embark. a..d with the great number of gangways, the 
huge task of checking in over 12,000 men was quickly accomplished. 

It was not known exactly when the ship would sail, but from the amount of 
cargo and baggage alongside it looked as if it would be a week. However, every- 
thing was loaded Monday afternoon and one by one the lines were cast oil and 
shortly after 6 P. M. the ship was pidled into the stream and headed down the bay. 
Under a new order from the War Department, the troops were allowed on deck 
and the bands to jilay. Great shouts went up as the ferry-boats full of commuters 
passed close to the ship. Altogether it was a pretty good send-oll. 

Great interest was exhibited in the city and harbor as the Leviathan stood 
out to sea, and esijecially in the camouflaged destioyer that picked up the ship 
outside the harbor. As darkness fell the decks were cleared of all but the crew, 
certain of the Army who were doing guard duty, and submarine lookout. 

By this time the permanent details for policing and mess and kitchen police 
had been arranged. The guard, consisting of more than 100 men and officers, was 



HISTORY Of^ :M:5th 1 .S. INFANTRY 19 



furnished by the 1st Battalion. Colonel Sweezey was commander of the guard. 
The problem of feeding so many men was splendidly worked out, and by estab- 
lishing lines from the troop compartments, through the serving stations and 
standing-up mess hall, and returning via the upper deck, the entire ship's company, 
excepting the crew, were fed in short order. 

About 6 A. M., Monday, the destroyer left and the Leviathan was left to 
her own resources. From her speed and the naval guns she mounted, she appeared 
to be well able to defend herself. The men all wore life-preservers at all times 
and abandon ship drills were held several times a day. Although the greatest 
number of men ever carried in one ship was aboard, after several days' practice 
the time of getting all men on deck was getting close to the record. On Friday 
the former record of fourteen minutes went by the board, and a new one of eleven 
minutes was established. The ship's captain wrote General Nicholson a letter 
congratulating him on the performance. 

On Sunday morning, about 8:00 A. !\I., after an uneventful voyage, the ship 
was met by a convoy of five destroyers which escorted her for the remainder of 
the trip. Early on the afternoon of Monday, July l.Sth, the coast of France was 
sighted and at .3:00 P. M. the Leviathan anchored in the harbor of Brest. 

All that afternoon and late into the night, lighters were ferrying the troops 
ashore. As soon as the landing was made, all were marched through the outskirts 
of Brest to the Pontanezen Barracks, where about thirty thousand troops were 
fdready quartered. This necessitated the Regiment pitching shelter camp about 
one and one-half miles out. This was no easy job, as tentage, wood, stores, 
supplies, etc., had to be carried by hand through deep mud. The next morn- 
ing, the 1st Battalion, which had stayed on the ship overnight, arrived in 
camp. The advance detachment, which had come in a slower vessel in a convoy 
and had only landed a few days previously, came out and paid a visit. As some 
one expressed it, "the place was a rest camp because you remembered it for the 
rest of your life." 

It was without the least regret that orders arrived suddenly on Wednesday 
evening, July 17th, that the Regiment would entrain for the interior next morning. 
No rest was obtained that night and at 5:32 A. M., July 18th, the first of the long 
trains pulled out. The trains consisted of an enormous number of old, dilapidated 
baggage cars, marked mostly with the following legend, "Hommes 40, Chevaux 
8," showing that it was better, as far as space went, to be a horse. 

The sardine industry, which has flourished for so many years in France, made 
them expert in all things connected with packing, and it wasn't long before all 
hands were stowed away. The next three days and nights were most interesting, 
if somewhat dirty and uncomfortable, for some beautiful country was covered. 
Stops were made en route for coffee and occasional washes at pumps at sidings 
and stations. The trains appeared to be running on an extemporaneous time 
table; but this was due to the great congestion caused by the activities at the 
front. 

The first train arrived at Laignes at 3:00 A. M., Sunday. July 21st. It was 
misthig heavily and it was necessary to wait for daylight. All that day the Regi- 



20 HISTORY OF 31 :5th T.S. INFANTRY 

ment was busy unloading baggage and locating billets. Regimental Headquarters, 
Headquarters Company and R Company were located in Laignes; A and D at 
Bissey la Pierre; C Company at Balot: K and F Companies at Marcenay; G and 
H, Larrey; I and Supply Companies at Poincon; K and L at Rouix; M and 
Machine dun at Cerilly. All the towns were situated within a few kilometers of 
each other. The business of cleaning up the streets and fixing up the barns to 
sleep in was a great novelty. Little did anyone realize how much fertilizer would 
eventually be moved from one place to another and how many billets would be 
fixed up during the Regiment's service in France. 

Of all companies, H Company, at Larrey, had the most picturesque billet. 
Nearly 20(1 men and ofTicers were ciuartered in the medieval chateau reputed to 
have been the home of Henry I\ at one time. The lady who resided there could 
not do enough for the Americans and was most hospitable to all. 

About the time everyone was getting accustomed to life in the strange sur- 
roundings, a lieutenant appeared at Laignes with 21 trucks and orders to leave at 
once. Thirty-three trucks had been sent for C, A and D Companies. Things 
were immediately packed and the truck train moved out. After a ride through 
beautiful country and quaint towns and villages the train arrived in Champlitte 
(Haute Saone) at 3:00 A. M. The Zone Major was awakened, and by sleeping 
some men in the trucks and some in the mess shacks, the hours of darkness were 
passed. At dawn, billets were located and the business of getting settled was again 
in full swing. For the next few days, truck trains were busy bringing up the 
remainder of the Regiment. On Monday, July 29th. all the troops had arrived 
with the exception of K Company which came the next day. 

Owing to the fact that Champlitte was not large enough to billet all the troops, 
it was necessary to quarter L Company in Margilley and I and K Companies in 
Neuvelle, both towns being close at hand. 

Just as soon as the quarters were made habitable, the business of intensive 
training for the day the Regiment would go into action against the enemy was 
commenced. 

Rifle ranges were selected, gas masks, steel helmets, trench knives, etc., were 
issued and long drills in the hot sun with gas masks carried and helmets worn 
became daily occurrences. At times gas masks were worn for long periods and 
everyone became accustomed to them. Close and extended order drills were carried 
on, varied by problems in attacks executed by units from platoons up to and 
including the entire Regiment. Divisional Terrain exercises were held. While at 
Champlitte, Captain Rrondelle and Lieutenant Comoy, of the French Army, were 
attacheil to Regimental Headquarters and were to stay with the Regiment during 
its entire time of training and, after that, accompany it in action. As these officers 
were able to speak English fluently and naturally were familiar with the French 
methods and the country, they were of great assistance on many occasions. 

( )ii August 4th, the Regimental and Rattalion Intelligence Sections left for a 
school established at St. Broingt-le-Bois. where all the Intelligence personnel of the 
Division were given a two weeks' training in scouting, observing, etc. 



7:',---i2--:^~.M^y.*- 




■vjt ' 



2:: HISTORY OF :U:5th I. S. INFANTRY 

(,)n August 10th. Colunel Brown, who had been made a full colont-l, \\a> at- 
tached to the Regiment. Lieut. -Colonel Stevens, at one time in command of the 
1st Battalion as major, was assigned. Later, both of these officers left for other 
duties and Major Pepper was recommended for promotion to lieutenant-colonel to 
fdl the vacancy. A number of lieutenants were promoted during the period of 
training at Champlitte. About the latter part of August the advance school 
detachment rejoined the Regiment. 

While in Champlitte retreat was held by the Regiment as a unit in front of 
the picturesque Hotel de ^ ille. The civiUan population all turned out each after- 
noon to watch the ceremony and listen to the band, while nearly every evening in 
the square the band gave concerts, which were thoroughly enjoyed by the soldiers 
and civilians alike. The days at Champlitte will be remembered as busy and 
pleasant ones. 

On September 7th rumors were current that the Division had orders to move 
and they materialized that night. Oyrieres was designated as the railhead. It 
was about two and one-half hours' march from Champlitte. At 11:00 A.M., 
Sunday morning. September 8th, the 1st Battalion started to entrain, k (".ompany 
did all the loading for the entire Regiment and by Monday all troops had entrained. 
The trains proceeded via Langres and Chaumont. At 2:00 P. M., Monday, 
September 9th, the train with Regimental Headquarters arrived at Revigny, where 
orders to proceed to Longeville, about 5 kilometers east of Bcir-le-Duc, were received. 
About an hour later the train arrived at Longeville. where the 1st Battalion was 
already billeted. C Company was to do all the unloading for the Regiment at 
tWs point. The 2d Battalion arrived at 12:30 A. M., Tuesday and bivouacked 
till daylight. The 3d Battalion arrived about 9:00 A. M. and marched to Savon- 
nieres, about 3 kilometers in the direction of Bar-le-Duc. 

General Nicholson called on Colonel Sweezey shortly after noon the same day, 
Tuesday, September 10th, with secret orders that the Division was to take over 
a sector within a few days. That night the Colonel went to Division Headquarters, 
secured more information, stopped at Savonnieres on his way back, and woke up 
the Battalion, Company and Platoon Commanders, for, in the morning, a recon- 
naissance party from all battalions was to go up to the trenches and look over the 
sector. It was late in the night of Wednesday, September 11th, before the recon- 
naissance party returned. On Thursday, September 12th, Field Order No. 2 — 
79th Division was received and at 6:30 P. M. the battalions formed and took 
positions along the north side of the Bar-le-Duc road, the column being headed 
west or toward Bar-le-Duc. 

About 8:00 P. M. a French captain arrived, followed shortly after by 240 
French trucks, driven by Anamites or men from French Indo-China. The trucks 
passed on so that the tail of the truck column rested at the same point the head 
of the infantry column did. No argument could persuade the French officer to 
change this disposition, so that the column marched about a mile farther and, when 
the head of the truck train was reached, all hands were loaded and the trucks started. 

The many months of drilling and training at home and abroad were now at 
an end and the 313th Infantry was on its last lap of the long journey to the trenches. 



CHAPTER VI 




LL nifiht long the trucks ran in total darkness while 
fioni the eastern horizon, illumined with intermittent 
Hashes, lame the roar of distant guns; for over to the 
right the great St. Mihiel jiush was in progress. At 
seven oelock the next morning. September 13th. the 
trucks discharged their passengers and the Regiment, 
less the 1st Rattalion. marched to Camp Pommieres. 
the 1st Rattalion proceeding to Camp des Fouchelles. 
During the day the troops rested in the woods, being 
careful to keep under cover from hostile aircraft. 
The regiment occupying the trenches was the 371st \ . S. Infantry (colored), which 
was attached to the French Army. In American uniforms and equipped with 
French helmets, gas masks, rifles, etc.. they made a strange appearance. At the 
Regimental lleadciuarters of the 37 1st Infantry were two rattiers (rat hounds) 
which had been issued to them by the French. 

In the afternoon, Colonel Sweezey and his statf had a conference with Colonel 
Miles, of the regiment to be relieved at \ errieres, where the dug-outs of the Regi- 
mental P. C. (post of command) were located. That evening, Friday, the 13th 
of September, at six o'clock, guides met the battalions and the relief commenced, 
each company moving in column of half platoons with .50 yards' distance. 

The sector covered considerable ground, the frontage being more than two 
kilometers and the depth extending for about three kilometers. It was not until 
2:40 A. ]\1. the next day that word reached the Regimental P. C. that the relief 
had been completed and all units established in their proper positions. The troops 
on the right f)f the Regiment were the 31,5th L . S. Infantry and on the left, the 
346th French Infantry. 

The 2d Rattalion held the left of the Regimental Sector with Company H in 
the outpost position. On the right, the 3d Rattalion had Company K in the out- 
post. These outposts were in old trenches which ran. in the open, parallel to the 
woods where the enemy's trenches were located. FZach battalion had two com- 
panies in the main line of resistance which was at the edge of the woods, about 
two kilometers from and parallel with the Roche. The remaining company of 
each battalion was encamped in shelters and dug-outs farther back in the woods. 
Observation Posts were manned by both Rattalion and Regimental Intelligence 
Sections. A system of runners was established and liaison established within the 
Regiment and with units on the right and left. These details having been com- 
pleted, the Regiment settled down to the business of war and of becoming accus- 
tomed to the new conditions. It did not seem at all terrible. Rut for the men 
in the outpost positions, which spread like a net across the entire front, and for 
the necessary jiatrols that visited and connected these small outpost groups, things 
were rather exciting at first, to say the least. The Roche was quiet, however, and ex- 



24 



H I S T O 1\ Y OF 31 3 T H li . S . INFANTRY 





Ndnlillo 


s 




MONTXAAiCON 




Bolsj« Moitfaoton 


1 

1 
1 




ChitMW 


1 1 


AvocooRT ; ; 


Avocourt ■ /^aUncourt 

1 Boii ^« Ddnntvowx 

1 ' ( 




\'ifw tif Munlfiiucun from Seclor .'iO'j. TheSl.'illi Infantry Allackedon Scplcmlicr ?6lh. 19 tS. starling 

several Kihimeters In the Right of Arocourt — Itie Town in the Foreground. Passin;/ tltrough 

the W'ouils Stiiiien nl llie Rigid en-route to the Hearity Fortilied lleiiihts of Montfaneon itself 



rept for the flares sent up at night, it was hard to reahze that a deadly enemy was 
lurking in the shoU-scarred woods. With the exception of some artillery and greater 
aerial activity, the sector had been very quiet. No gas nor raids had been put over. 
This order was not destined to last long, however, as subsequent events proved. 

In the foreground of the 2d Battalion sector were the ruins of Avocourt, while 
above the tree-tops to the north, or directly in front, rose the Heights of JMont- 
faucon, soon to be famous in American history. The ruined town could be plainly 
seen, and through powerful glasses one could occasionally distinguish a man in 
its streets, api3rf)\iniately six kilometers away. It was from this vantage point 
that the Crown Prince had watched his armies make their terrible but futile attacks 
on Verdun in l'»16. It was indeed historic ground on which the 313th U. S. Infantry 
received its baptism of fire. 

While in the line the companies in each battalion were shifted about so as to 
give relief to the outpost companies, the duty of constant vigilance demanding a 
tremendous tax. Sleep was almost impossible, especially during the hours of 
darkness when there was need of great watchfulness. The 2d Battalion held the 
left sub-sector for the entire time the Regiment was in the line. The right sub- 
sector, which was held by the 3d Battalion at first, was manned by the 1st Battalion 
on Wednesday night, September 18th, the 3d Battalion being withdrawn to 
Camp Bretagne in the woods back of the lines. 

A number of gas alarms were sounded but apparently they were false. During 
one relief a German plane flew over the lines and dropped a few bombs. 



HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 25 



The French, on the left, had sent over a large raiding party without success, 
but still, things were very quiet in front of the Regiment until 1:15 A. M., Fri- 
day, September 20th, when a raid was put over by the Roche on the extreme left 
of E Company in the outpost position. The raiders were driven off after shots 
were exchanged, but they returned again in about an hour and were again repulsed. 
On neither occasion had they penetrated the lines and only two Americans were 
wounded. After daylight the body of a 2d heutenant of the 1st Division Prussian 
Foot Guards was found outside the parapet. He was identified by his papers as 
the son of a major-general and the information gained from his papers showed 
that one of the best regiments of the Prussian ( iuards had come into the sector. 

At exactly 5:30 A. M., Sunday morning, September 22d, a heavy barrage was 
laid down by the enemy in back of the forward position. This gradually moved 
toward the line of resistance. The intense fire did lots of damage to the trenches 
and placed a barrier between the outpost and main line of resistance. The barrage 
kept up for an hour and thirty-five minutes and. under its cover, a strong raiding 
party of Germans came over. They attacked the 1st Platoon of E Company, who 
were holding in and around the village of Avocourt. During the fighting the 
platoon leader of E Company, Lieutenant Geis. was slightly wounded and three 
of his men also. One man was killed and one captured. The Germans suf- 
fered more heavily, as they left nine dead, including an officer, and carried off 
eight of their own, either dead or wounded. 

The right sub-sector was raided at the same time by a large force. A German 
corporal, who was captured, said that three companies took part in the raid. 
A Company, who were holding the outpost, finally drove the enemy out and 
caused them considerable losses. A Company had three men killed and one 
officer and six men wounded. One man was captured by the raiders. This man 
was eventually released after the armistice, returned to the States on February 
4th, and died the next day. 

On Saturday night, September 21st, at 11:45 P. M., with the exception of 
A and E Companies, the Regiment was relieved by units of the 146th. 118th and 
129th U. S. Infantry. The 129th U. S. Infantry took over the outpost or fine of 
observation. The purpose of this was to make it appear to the enemy, in case 
they secured prisoners, that one regiment was covering the entire front, and thus 
conceal the concentration of troops that was in progress. A and E Companies 
were refieved Sunday morning, September 22d. 

While the Regiment had been in the line, great preparations for the attack 
that was to begin soon were being made. Guns, tractors, ammunition and sup- 
plies were hauled into the woods and gun emplacements constructed. Roth French 
and American artillerymen, field and heavy, and even French sailors, were busily 
engaged. The weather was hazy but the Roche was getting more active in the 
air, all the time trying to see what was going on. Cannon of various calibers were 
literally packed in with only enough space between them to man the guns. Great 
care was taken to camouflage the work. 

After all units were relieved, the Regiment was assembled in a shelter camp 
in the Rois de Lambechamp and Camp Rretagne. Here the men managed to relax 



26 IIIS'IOH^ OF ?,\:\th I . S. INFArsTU^ 

after their spell in the trenches and j^ood food was served in large quantities. The 
weather was bad and everything was wet and soggy, but there was excitement in 
the air. It was apparent to all that som<'thing big was to come ofT. That was 
easy enough to guess, but just when it was to be was not known. Ammunition 
and pyrotechnics were drawn and all excess baggage was salvaged. The paper 
work was increasing. The office at Regim(>ntal Headquarters consisted of a type- 
writer on a box, placed in front of the pup-tent occupied by the Adjutant and 
Intelligence Officer. The Colonel's quarters consisted of another shelter tent 
nearby. 



CHAPTER MI 




IS Wednesday afternoon, September 25th, following a 
meeting of the Division. Brigade and Regimental Com- 
manders, at which General Pershing was present. 
Colonel Sweezey assembled all the officers and ser- 
geants and told them of the task before them. The 
attack was to start the next day and the .313th Infantry 
was to have the honor position of the drive, as the 
heavily fortified heights of Montfaucon were in the 
Regimental sector. The Regiment was to be in the 
front line and on the left of the Division sector. On 
the left of the Regiment the 37th Division were to attack and on the right of the 
313th Infantry the 31 1th Infantry were to be in the front line. The 2d Battalion 
was to be on the left of the front fine with the 3d Battalion on the right. C Com- 
pany was to function as "moppers-up" and G Company as Regimental Reserve. 
A, B and D Companies of the 1st Battalion were to be the Brigade Reserve. 

At 7:00 P. M., or shortly after the orders had been handed to the Battalion 
Commanders, the Reginicnit left the Bois de Lambechamp and started through 
paths, which had been prepared through the woods, to jump-off trenches facing 
the Bois de Malancourt. It took nearly all night before the last troops had reported 
that they were in position. Finally, at 4:10 A. M., everything was set. 

The artillery started firing at 11 :30 P. M. on the 25th. and the sky was literally 
ablaze with flashes. At 2 :30 A.M., on the 26th, the real bombardment commenced, 
for it was at this hour that the Coast Artillery and heavy guns of different types 
opened up. It is believed that this concentration of artillery was the greatest in 
the world's history. There was an average of one gun to less than eight meters 
of front. To the men waiting in the trenches, the rush of shells through the air 
sounded like a succession of express trains passing oveihead. From far in the 
German lines came dull thuds as the projectiles landed and bashed in the dug-outs, 
trenches, shelters, etc. The noise along the entire front was terrific. To add to 
the uproar, the Boche bombarded the American front line in return. During the 
night word was sent out that the "H" hour was to be 5:30 A. M. Just before this 
the 75's were to bombard the German fire trenches and then follow it up with a 
rolling barrage. 

Bayonets were fixed, the screen of smoke was sent out by the troops of the gas 
and flame regiment who were attached, and promptly at 5:30 the first assaulting 
waves went over the top. The battalions were attacking in column of companies, 
H on the left and K on the right, each company maintaining an interval of 10 
to 15 meters between men. with a total frontage of about 800 meters. The bom- 
bardment of the heavies had ceased and the troops walked across "No Man's 
Land" hugging the barrage. It was difficult going, as the "No Man's Land" of 



VERDUN A 



'' Monlfaucon" 

Slim , TIRAGE DU a A9UT 19i8 J»-M<« 




7 ~<» ^-'« ^ /=i5 



■^f^ 



^\r 'v.v^ ^m'' .r^^lu- 



V 







(ireally reduced plmloijmiili of tin iieliidl Imltle map it.ied by .'ll.'llh lufanlry in utlackiruj Maitlfdiicun. 
In /(iirrr riijhl hand earner Ihe "jump-off" Irenehes are shown 



HISTORY OF 31 :5 th I. S. 1 N F A .\ T H V 



29 




Secliun uf Froril Line and "No-Man's Land." Pari of llie SL'llli "Juiupcil off" from l/iis Point 

on September '^6th. I!>IS 



four years was literally pockmarked with shell holes and obstructed with number- 
less bands of tangled, twisted barbed wiie that had to be cut. 

The front trenches were soon passed by the first lines and, altliough men were 
dropping from the German artillery fire, no resistance, excepting some machine-gun 
fire, was met at first. Well into the Malancourt woods, however, a withering fire 
of hidden machine guns and snipers was met. The thick woods made it difficult 
to maintain the line intact, but the battalions kept pressing forward. Enemy 
machine gunners and snipers were taking their toll and a number of them were 
soon captured and others met with a worse fate. The fire was still intense, but 
the attack had to proceed and the line could not halt to search out all snipers and 
machine-gun nests. 

Although the fiie was bad enough in the woods, it got very much worse as the 
troops passed out into the open space between the Bois de Malancourt and Bois 
de Montfaucon. Major Langley, commanding the .3d Battalion, was shot through 
both legs and Major Pepper received a mortal wound in the head. The latter's 
Adjutant, Lieutenant Patterson, lay dead in the woods to the rear. In the mean- 
time. Lieutenant Steinman of E Company, had his platoon practically wiped out 
trying to maintain liaison with the 37th Division on the left. 

A temporary halt had to be made and an organized attack was started against 
the machine guns that were blocking the way. Only a few of these were in the 



30 



HISTORY OF 3 13th U.S. INFANTRY 



immcdiatP vicinity, as the woods and trenches on all sides were hiding places for 
the machine gunners and snipers. The Colonel, who had come forward rapidly, 
was bending over a map with Lieutenant Schaudler, of the Regimental Intelligence 
Section, when a sniper got the latter in the hip. 

Captain Ingersoll, of H Company, had been wounded several times in the 
attack that was organized to clean out the snipers and was taken to the rear, where 
he later died. The troops following were having hard sledding, as the woods were 
literally swept with rifle and machine-gun fire, to which was added H. ?]. (high 
explosive) and shrapnel. 

The Regiment was reorganized and the heavy bands of iron-staked wire 
passed. About 2:00 P. M. the attack on the Bois de Cuisy started. Small French 
tanks were coming up by now and the woods were penetrated and captured. Before 
4:00 P. M., practically all troops had reached the northern edge of the woods. 
Some patrols and smaller groups were already there. 

The day's casualties had been heavy, the men very tired and a great many 
were out of water. Regimental Headquarters were now in telephone communi- 
cation with Brigade and the Corps ordered an immediate attack on Montfaucon, 
which loomed up several kilometers to the north across the open, roUing country. 

In the meantime the 1st Battalion came up and joined the Regiment and at 
dusk the attack started with five small tanks ahead. The fine advanced silently 
for a few hundred yards, when a fusillade of machine guns opened up. Major 




Scctiuii of " l\u-ijian':i Land" in Front uf llic Buis df Malancourl 



HISTORY OF :5i:?TH 



S . I \ I-' \ \ T W Y 



31 



Putnam, commanding the 1st Battalion, was shot tlirough the head and killed. 
Some troops penetrated almost to thi> town of JMontfaucon and one company 
reached the outskirts. The majority of the troops stayed out in the open all that 
night, some of the rear elements retiring to just inside the woods. Outposts were 
established and preparations made to repel any counter-attacks, but none 
materialized. Thus the first day ended. Colonel Sweezey was the only field 
officer left. Captain Flynn, of A Company, was now in command of the 1st 
Battalion, Captain Burgwin. of Company E, of the second, and Captain Lloyd, of 
L Company, had the 3d Battalion. 

At 7:30 A. INI., the second day, Friday, September 27th, the attack on Mont- 
faucon was resumed with the 2d Battalion on the left, 1st Battalion on the right 
and the 3d Battalion in support. It was not long before a heavy machine-gun fire 
was met. Snipers were also busy. In the meantime, the tanks had come up and 
the attack progressed in spite of the rain of machine-gun bullets. Finally, at 11 :00 
A. M., the Regiment entered Montfaucon. the 2d Battalion through the outskirts 
of the town to the left or western side and 1st and 3d Battalions through the streets 
and eastern edge. 

At 11:45 A. M., the capture of the town was reported to Division by pigeon. 
The Regimental P. C. was advanced to the eastern slope of the hill near the ceme- 
tery at 12:50. The snipers were still active and the sheUing very heavy. Request 
for artillery fire on the Bois de Beuge to the north was made. A battalion of the 




Munljaucon — Photo liikcii from litilf a mile away 



32 



HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 



- ^j^■^•^■*^MB ffjiS^ , 




r*?":'*-'--- 



■•«S 






View Jrom (Uriiuiii (MhtcrmUun Post on l/ic IJfinlils of Moiilfaiicoii ShowiiKj Ihe Open Country wliicli 
the 313th Infantry Passed Over Under Ifeary Artillery and Machine Gun Fire. Note 
Ihe Ercellent Observation the Enemy had of Praelirallv the Entire Ground 



3I6th was also requested to take up a position (ni the north edge of the town, 
where a gap appeared, while the 313th was being organized for a further advance. 

The advance was resumed at 3:30 P. ]\I. The 37th Division had run into 
heavy machine-gun fire and was forced to withdraw slightly. The 311th was 
suffering very heavy shell-fire over to the right. 

The Regimental P. C. had been moved forward as the advance proceeded and 
was located in a shell-hole on the top of the hill, where a wonderful view of the 
country to the north was obtained. 

About midway in the valley, between IVIonlfaucon and Bois de Beuge, the 
line ran into cxtrcmf'ly heavy machine-gun and 11. K. and shrapnel fire. One 
H. E. landed within a few feet of the Regimental P. C. and wounded the Ad- 
jutant slightly in the neck. It became necessary to move the P. C. back to the 
former location near the cemetery. 

As darkness approached, it was decided to hold for the night along the northern 
edge f)f the hill and the Regiment held in that jiosition with the exception of some 
troops who were further out as the advance line of observation, and some had 
even penetrated to the Bois de Beuge. 

The second day ended, but there was no rest forthcoming, as the town and 
hill espet'ially were heavily shelled and gassed most of the night. 



1 1 I S T () H ^ OK :! 1 :W H IS. I \ F \ \ IMl Y 



Captain Hughes, the Regimental Supply Officer, came up with the trains, but 
was shelled out of his position in the orchard. He later got up ammiuiition. 

The troops were suflering from lack of water, especially the woundinl. but 
fortunately some was secured from a well in town. It had been impossible to get 
rations and the food carried in the packs had been consumed bef(»re this; and. 
together w ith the lack of food and rest, the troops were in a pretty exhausted state. 
During the night the artillery were called on for a harassing fire on the Bois de 
Beuge. The Regiment was now practically without artillery support, as the ad- 
vance had been so rapid that the guns could not keep up over the shell-torn ground 
and roads. The engineers were frantically endeavoring to build and repair the 
roads to enable the traffic to advance. 

During the day, in clearing the town, the Crown Prince's observation post 
was discovered. A house had been reinforced with steel girders and concrete, with 
a thick concrete tower running through it. It was nearly shell-proof, except from 
a direct hit by a heavy gun, and a wonderful field of view in all directions was 
obtained from it. 



CHAPTER VIII 




T 2:00 A. M. Saturday, September 28th. a battalion 
commander of the 316th Infantry arrived with orders 
to relieve the 313th Infantry. Shortly afterward. 
Colonel Charles, of the 31()th Infantry, arrived and at 
7:00 A. M. the relief was completed and the attack 
again started. The 316th had proceeded about one 
thousand yards when a terrific artillery lire was put 
down on the 313th at the northern edge of Mont- 
faucon. Captain Drayton, at the Regimental P. C. 
was struck in the leg and was carried to the rear by 
four Boche prisoners. Colonel Sweezey gave the order to advance and the Reg- 
iment followed the 316th to the Cierges-Nantillois road north of the Bois de 
Beuge, where they were held up by machine-gun and artillery lire. In the mean- 
time the French supporting tanks had withdrawn. It was finally decided to take 
up a defensive position on the Bois de Beuge ridge. The 37th Division, on the 
left, had dug in in the meantime and were holding for the night. 

That night the P. C. was established in the open on a railroad embankment 
close to the woods, and the officers and men lay down in the mud and rain trying 
to get some much-needed rest. About 11:00 P. M., the Supply Company got the 
rolling kitchens, water carts and wagons up and some warm coffee, beans and other 
food distributed. Some of the men were too exhausted to even go for their share. 
It was the first food anyone had had outside of the reserve rations since Wednesday 
afternoon. 

Sunday morning, at 2:00 A. M.. an orderly arrived fnjm Brigade Headquarters 
with orders to attack at 7:00. the 313lh to support the 316th at 800 meters. The 
Regiment again moved out, this time with the 3d Battalion, under command of 
Captain Morris of K Company, Captain Lloyd having been wounded. Regimental 
P. C. was moved to the eastern edge of the Bois de Beuge. The whole area was 
under heavy H. E. and gas, both phosgene and mustard being shelled in constantly. 
Many casualties were occurring and it could be seen that the 37th Division, 
over to the west, were having a hard time of it, too. General Nicholson was on 
the field and was in consultation with Colonel Sweezey. At about 11:00 A. M., 
the Brigade on the left of the Begiment was seen to fall back from the crest of the 
hill they had reached. The regiment on the right was also driven back off the 
ridge by heavy shell fire. At this time, the 316th Infantry in front of the Regiment 
was seen to be withdrawing and came back through the lines of the 313th Infantry 
to the position of the Regimental P. C. The 313th held its position, but the ranks 
were seen to be looking to the rear as if questioning what to do and why they were 
the only ones standing fast. At this instant the Brigade Commander gave the 
Regimental Commander orders to proceed and take command of the front line, 
leaving the two regiments in the positions they were now occupying. The General, 
upon arriving, had been informed that the 313th Infantry was actually in front. 



36 iiisioin OK ;n:?TH U.S. infantry 

'■ Can you advance with themP " the General asked of the Regimental Commander, 
to which he received an immediate response in the affirmative. The Regiment 
then took up tlie advance with tlic troops disposed in tiie (jriginal formations. 

Upon approaching the woods, very heavy machine-gun fire was encountered, 
and upon reaching the woods they were found to be heavily gassed. Roche planes 
immetliatcK signaled the location to their artillery and the Regiment soon found 
itself under a cross-fire of artillery from both flanks and front, which together with 
machine guns and snipers, made it hot. The Roche had good obser\ ation all along 
from a balloon olV to the right on the heights of the Meuse. Furtheiniore, they 
had managed to conceal snipers and observers in the lear of Montfaucon and it 
was a long time before they were all put out. 

Across th(> clearing and north of the I5ois de Rcuge lay another woods and the 
heavih foi tilled Madeleine Farm, a full five kilometers north of Montfaucon. The 
Regiment pressed forward despite the teriific opposition which the Roche were 
putting up. and penetrated into the Madeleine Farm. The casualties were heavy 
indeed. Lieutenants Rujip of (i Company and Watters, of R Company, were both 
instantly killed while leading their platoons into this stronghold. Without more 
artillery the situation appeared hopeless, the casualties increasing all the time. 
The Boche had only vacated recently, as a mess of fresh vegetables, wine bottles, 
etc., on the table gave mute testimony. 

Soniew hat after I :()() P. M . w( ird w as passed that a counter-attack was expected 
from the left, and orders from the Brigade were received to prepare a defensive 
position along the northern edge of the Bois de Reuge. The withdrawal was neces- 
sitated by the fact that a barrage was to be laid down on the line 82, being north 
of the edge of the Bois de Beuge, which was away in the rear of where the front line 
was. The withdrawal was effected slowly but the casualties were extremely heavy. 
Captains Bupp and Riley, of C and D Companies, respectively, were killed within 
a few feet of each other. Captain Du Rarry, Regimental Intelligence Ofiicer, suf- 
fered a bad wound in the leg. Major ,Ia<'kson. who had contimially been going 
from one man to another on the field giving first aid, was badly wounded by a shell 
shortly after going back to his aid station. 

That night the Regiment dug in, as did thi' 37th Division on the left and the 
31 1th Infantry on the right. The positions were shelled all that night and everyone 
was hoping for a relief. The human body would stand only so much, and besides, 
the Regiment was greatly depleted in numbers. 

The next day, Monday, September 30th, was spent with the lines holding 
where they were the night before, as the Regiment was to be relieved. During the 
afternoon, the Tth Infantry of the 3d Division came up and took over the sector. 
While coming in they suffered heavily from shell fire that was continually sweeping 
the area. Ry evening the relief was completed and what remained of the Regi- 
ment marched to Malancourt, where the trains were waiting and. after som<> hot 
food, the troops bivouacked in a cold rain on the hillside to wail fur daylight. 

Montfaucon had been won, but the price paid had been heavy. The Regiment 
lost 1,5 officers, of whom 12 were killed outright or died of their wounds, and some 
1,200 of the men were killed, wounded or missing. 




V 



CHAPTER IX 




ARLY Tuesday morning, October 1st, the Regiment 

formed and marched via Esnes and Hill W\, a scene 

of utter desolation, to the Bois d'Esnes. The going 

was difficult as the men were footsore from having 

had wet feet for days, and had to leave the roads many 

times to let the unending stream of guns, ammunition, 

ambulances and vehicles of ail kinds pass. I pon 

arriving at the edge of the woods an artillery regiment 

undertook feeding the whole Regiment, for which all 

were extremely grateful. In the afternoon shelter 

camp was pitched in the woods. The band played, which did a great deal to cheer 

up the troops. The rest was not for long, however, for on Thursday, October 3d, 

orders were received to march to the Bois de Nixeville. 

The Regiment moved out at 6:00 P. M., the first elements arriving at the 
destination at 3 :00 A. INI . on October 4th. It was nearly daylight when the last ones 
were in. Ml hands bivouacked in a drizzling rain. About 2:00 P. M. the march 
was resumed and the troops arrived that evening at tienicourt and went into billets, 
part of the 1st Battalion going to Camp Brancarville, and the Machine Gun Com- 
pany into tiie Adrian Barracks nearby. The troops were pretty well fagged by now; 
but on October 5th orders were received for a reconnoitering party to leave the next 
day for the Troyon Sector where the American lines had held after the drive stopped 
in the St. Mihiel Salient. 

Colonel Sweezey called the otficcrs and the sergeants together and told them ot 
the sector to be taken over, and at 6:00 P. M., October 6th, the Regiment marched 
to Rupt. arriving about 1 1 :00 P. M. Here a very muddy camp was occupied until 
the next night. 

Beginning the next morning small detachments started for the trenches where 
troops of the 26th Division were holding the main lines and French troops the 
outposts. During the night, the main body marched out and started the relief, 
with the exception of the outposts. The Begiment again went into the front line 
with the 3d Battalion on the left (center of resistance Providence) and the 2d on 
the right (C. B. Augusta). The 1st Battahon was disposed in the rear with two 
companies, B and D, on the left, and A and C on the right. The relief took a long 
time, as the sector was very large. It was completed before daylight. 

Begimental Headquarters were established in the woods at P. C. Marengo, 
and after the battle out of which the troops had just come, the sector seemed quiet. 
The Boche shelled the position freely at night, however, and a number of gas 
casualties occurred. Mustard gas was laid in thickly in the ravines. A number of 
men, who had taken sick after the exposure during the battle, had to be evacuated. 
An officer from each company was required to go to the 2d Corps School, and 
with the sadly depleted personnel, it was fortunate that a replacement of fifteen 
2d Lieutenants and one Captain was received. 



40 HISTom OF ■^\■^^H U.S. INFAN1H1 

In this sector the line of resistance ran along a series of hills overlooking the 
vast plains of the VNuevre. The recently captured German trenches and dugouts 
were occupied. 

Below on the plains and I'ar out toward the (ierman lines. Fiench Iroops were 
in (iut|)ost positions in the trenches in and around Fresnes, Tresauvaux. ('.ham])lon 
and Saulx. ("onnnunication could oidy be maintained and supplies cairied out to 
the French after dark. The work was hard for the troops in the line of resistance, 
as the food had to be cooked in the rear and carried up to the lines at night to the 
companies along the ridge, for the Boche had excellent observation during tlie day. 
Also day and night details were required for the engineers to build roads and 
trenches for the entire time the Begiment was in. 

Shortly after daylight of the day the 2d Battalion got into position a horrible 
accident occurred at the 2d Battalion P. C. The hill on which the P. C. was located 
was honeycombed with mine galleries, many of which liad been used by the Boche 
for storing amnninition and supplies. Captain Barber of tlie Medical Corps and 
Captain Augenstein of the Dental Corps were reconnoitering the mouth of a dark 
gallery entrance trying to locate a place for the Battalion Aid Station when the 
former dropped a match accidentally. This set lire to a large quantity of Boche 
flares and other pyrotechnics and the officers were so badly burned that they both 
died within a day or so after reaching the hospital in the rear. Both of these officers 
had come through the heavy fire at Montfaucon without a scratch. 

Shortly after the Begiment took over the sector, A and C Companies relieved 
the French outposts in Saulx and Chamiilon. and B and D relieved the French 
in and around Fresnes. During the night of October 13th-llth, A and C were 
relieved by Companies of the 2d Battalion. The 3d Battalion had already reUeved 
B and D at Fresnes on the 12th. The sector was now entirely garrisoned by the 
3i3tii Infantry with the 2d and 3d Battalions in front and 1st Battalion in support. 
Excepting for the usual patrols and the working parties, there was little activity. 
The artillery of both sides did considerable firing, but only a few casualties occurred 
in the Begiment. 

Sickness was taking its toll, and on Saturday, October 12th. Colonel Sweezey, 
who had been very ill ever since Montfaucon, was evacuated with very high fever. 
Lieut. -Colonel De Lamater, formerly of the 27th Division, being temporarily 
attached to the Begiment, took command. He later became G-1 of the Division 
and was replaced by Lieut. -Colonel C. B. Moore on October L5th. That same da> 
Captain Morris, who took command of the 3d Battalion w hen Captain Lloyd was 
wounded during the Montfaucon drive, was evacuated on account of pneumonia: 
and Captain Norris, who had joined the Begiment on October 11th. succeeded him 
in command of the battalion. On October 20th. Captain Gibbons of B Companx 
was placed in command of the 1st Battalion. Captain F'lynn of A Company was 
also evacuated on account of sickness. The Division was now in the 2d Army. 

During the night of October 16th-17th, a prisoner, evidently a deserter, was 
taken in F^resnes. He was from the 82d Begiment Landwehr. 13th Division. On 
October 21st, at 7 A. M., a German soldier was found in the hnes and taken prisoner. 
From information gained it was thought that a raid might be expected. .\11 troops 



42 IIISTom OF :M:5th l.S. INFANTRY 

were on the alert all night and the battle positions taken up. It did not materialize, 
however, although a barrage was laid down in the front of Fresnes at 11 P. M. 
On Tuesday, October 22d, a heavy barrage was put down by the Germans on the 
I37th Infantry over on the left. It started at 4.30 A. M. and lasted for about one 
hour. 

On Wednesday, October 23d, Boche planes flew over the lines dropping prop- 
aganda printed in Fnglish and entitled "What Are We Fighting For.''" They 
eventually found out. During the day reconnoitering parties from the 130th U. S. 
Infantry. 33d Division, arrived from the sector north of \ erdun, and the following 
day the 2d Battalion, 313th V. S. Infantry, was relieved. The next night the 3d 
Battalion was also relieved. Just before this, a Boche mail carrier of the 365th 
Regiment Musketeers, having lost his way, entered the line by mistake, and was 
taken prisoner. On October 26th Regimental Headquarters left the P. C. Marengo, 
and the various units of the Regiment were assembled in the woods near Rupt-en- 
Woevre. Here Colonel William C. Rogers of the Division Military Police and 
Trains was waiting with orders and took command of the Regiment, relieving 
Lieut. -Colonel Moore, who went to Headquarters 1st Army. 

While in camp the troops were rested. There were some French showers in 
the town and details were marched down to take baths. New equipment and under 
clothes were issued. A large number of replacement troops with varying degrees 
of experience and training were assigned to the Regiment and materially increased 
the depleted ranks. 

Meantime a immber of promotions of officers came through. Captains Elliott 
and Morris, and some 1st and 2d lieutenants were advanced one grade. Major 
Iiilliott remained temporarily with Regimental Headquarters. Lieut. Bradlee, for- 
merly of B Company and for a short time Regimental Intelligence and Operations 
Officer, now acting as Regimental Adjutant, was later promoted to Captain. Lieut. 
Clark, who was now the Intelligence and Operations Officer, having been trans- 
ferred from his duties as 3d Battalion Adjutant, was also promoted to Captain. 
Lieut. Kirk of K Company, later Captain, was appointed Personnel Adjutant. 
The original field and stalT officers in nearly every case had to be replaced owing to 
casualties and sickness. 

On Sunday, October 27th, the 1st Battalion had orders to move to Genicourt 
and the remainder of the Regiment to Les Monthairons on the Meuse. The troops 
arrived late that night and were just being billeted when orders were received to 
push on to \ erdun. It was a bit discouraging to find that what was thought to be 
the end of a night march was only a half-way halt. But the column moved out 
over the congested roads and slowly made its way northward, reaching Verdun 
about 3:00 A. M. on Monday. The Headquarters Company was billeted in the 
jail; the rest of the Regiment, minus the 1st Battalion, were put in the citadel, 
the 1st Battalion moving on to the Jardin Fontaine, part of the enormous system 
of permanent barracks outside the city walls. 

The city and citadel were under long-range shell fire and a few casualties 
occurred. The city was extremely interesting and small groups of men were allowed 
to do some sight-seeing. The city was full of American and French soldiers. While 



HISTORY OF 3 13th U.S. INFANTRY 43 

it had been subject to years of shell fire, the great barrier of hills surrounding the 
city gave certain parts of it protection from the longest-range guns. It was not as 
badly wrecked as one might have thought. 

On Tuesday, 29th October, word came that the Regiment would again reheve 
part of the 26th Division who were holding a sector north of ^'erdun and east of 
the River Meuse, and after dark the troops moved a short way outside the city 
and occupied French camps in three different woods. 

All the next day while the troops stayed in the woods, reconnoitering parties 
went up to the Cote-de-Roches to arrange for a camping place for the Regiment 
pending the taking over of the sector assigned. These parties came back with the 
cheering news that it was the worst sector the 26th Division had ever occupied. 
The 26th was the second Division of the American forces to arrive in France and 
had been in action since February in different parts of the front. That night the 
battalions and separate units made a march that will not be easily forgotten. At 
times the roads were under a heavy fire, and searchlights swept the heavens when 
the hum of Roche planes came from out the darkness above. 



CHAPTER X 




RRIVIXr. at Cote-de-Rochfs about midnight, the 1st 
Battalion bivouacived in sliell holes in the rocky sides 
of the hill and within a few hundred feet of the mouths 
of a battery of 155"s of the 2Tth Division. The rest 
of the Regiment arrived during the night and lay 
down in the open with the 1st Battalion, the guns 
firing directly over the bodies of the slee[)ing men. 
The night was cold, but the troops, tired from the 
long maifh, slept well. In the morning the kitchens 
were busy serving hot meals along the banks of the 
Meuse Canal, wiiicli was dry along this section. The next day the 1st Battalion 
received orders to relieve part of the 104th Infantry, 26th Division, on Hill 360 and 
the battalion moved out to the east through '" i^cath Valley" and effected the relief 
by 11:00 1\ M. It was extremely hard going, for the least noise drew fire. The 
lines were only eighty yards apart at some points and the climb up the hill had to 
be made very cautiously: but in spite of all i)r'ecautions a lunnber of casualties 
occurred. C. and D Companies went into the frt)nt line with B Company in support 
and A Company in reserve in the Bois d'Ormont. Major Stuart S. Janney, who 
had joined the Regiment while at Rupt, was now in command of the 3d Battalion, 
which moved up into position in the Bois de Brabant in support of the 1st Bat- 
talion. The Regimental P. C. was moved into a dugout near the Ormont Farm, 
and as the entire vicinity was under shell fire at all hours of the day and night, it 
was not easy to maintain communication. The 2d Battalion was still at Cote-de- 
Boches in Division reserve. 

Life for the troops in the line and in support was hard. All food had to be 
cooked back on the banks of the canal, several kilometers away, and taken up in 
wagon trains over heavily shelled roads at night by the Supply Company. The 
annnunition dump of the Regiment along this road was blown up one night, as were 
several dumps of artillery ammunition. The food for the Colonel and Slafl' and 
personnel had to be hauled over this same road, as nothing could be cooked at either 
Battalion or Begimental Headtpiarters. 

On November 2d, Major Klliott was placed in commantl of the 2d Battalion, 
but the next day he was transferred to the 3d 15attalion, as Major Janney had been 
promoted to Lieut.-Colonel and gone to Begimental Head(|uarters. Things were 
quiet enough for the 2d Battalion in the Cote-de-Boches, but the shelling was bad 
at times (>ven here, and a dozen or more casualties occurred. The 3d Battalion, 
which was in support, was also having casualties from shell fire and gas; but for 
the 1st Battalion and the Machine Cum Company up on Hill 360 things were bad 
indeed. 

The trenches of both sides ran through shell-scarred woods on top of the hill 
and were deep with mud and water and obstructed with fallen trees and other 
debris. Repair work was impossible. Even at night the least sound would draw 



HISTORY OK :! I :5 [ H r . S . I N F A N T IM 15 

machine-gun fire from the Boche gunners only a few yards off, and the enemy were 
sheUing the position with direct fire. One gun was later found below the crest of 
the hill on the (!erman side where it could sweep the American lines at will. It 
was impossible to move about during daylight. The ground between the lines 
was thick with the bodies of the troops who had previously held the sector, French 
Colonials, Americans and ( iermans. Some had Iain there for months. 

The hard conditions made an early relief advisable; so on November 6th, the 
1st Battalion moved back to the Bois de Brabant, in support, the Ikl Battalion 
going into the front line, where they only stayed a few days, as the general situation 
along the whole front had greatly changed. A couple of days later, the 26th Divi- 
sion again took over the hill. The .^d Battalion moved out of the position with only 
a few casualties to the Cote-de-Roches, and later to Molleville Farm as Division 
reserve. The 2d Battalion had in the meantime been sent to reinforce the 158th 
Brigade over to the left, followed shortly afterwards by the 1st Battalion. The 
following chapter will give an account of their activities on the left of the Division 
sector. 

While in reserve the 3d Battalion was visited by Secretary of War Keppel 
and the appearance of a civilian in such surroundings aroused considerable curios- 
ity. On November II th. the .'5d Battalion was ordered back to Ormont Farm. 



CHAPTER XI 




L^RINd the iiifiht of November 4th word came to the 
2d Battalion to be prepared to move in the morning 
to support the l.')!ilh Infantry Brigade, who were 
engaged with the enemy on the left of the Division 
Sector. Later, delinit(> orders were received, and at 
7:00 A. M. the Battalion moved northward along the 
canal and proceeded via the ruined town of Brabant 
to the southern edge of the Bois de Consenvoye. 
Captain Burgwin had received orders from the Com- 
manding (ieneral of the 158th Brigade to re])ort to the 
Colonel of the :516th Infantry. After this was done the Battalion again moved 
forward to the northern edge of the woods in position to repel any counter-attack 
the (iermans mighl attempt. 

Ahead of the Battalion lay a stretch of open, hilly country. l)are of all vege- 
tation and covered with shell-holes and trenches. Over to the right, a road ran 
approximately north and south along the edge of a thick woods, just inside of 
which the German and American lines faced each other, about lifty yards apart. 
Troops of the 158th Brigade were holding a line, which ran east and west, in the 
open along the southern slope of Hill 1578. then turned at right angles in the woods, 
and ran south. The 158th Brigade had gained a foothold on the hill several times, 
but had been unable to hold it and had sulfered very heavy losses. They were in 
an exhausted state and many of the wounded could not be brought in nor food 
carried up, the artillery and machine-gun fire being st) intense. 

Before dawn on November 6th, H Company, of the 31.3th Infantry, who had 
been established in the woods facing east, were moved over to the west and the 
line in the woods on the right of the sector maintained by thin outpost lines. The 
2d Battalion was getting into position in the northern edge of the Bois de Consen- 
voye facing the open country to the north. These woods were heavily gassed and 
were under shell lire when the American barrage started, followed at 7:30 A. M. 
by the Battalion attacking to the north to attempt to gain Hill 378. The enemy 
fire and gas were Sf) bad that the Battalion became somewhat disorganized and lost 
the barrage. (J Company and one platoon of E Company, nevertheless, gained 
the hill and hung on to their new position tenaciously. It was impossible to 
attempt getting all the troops up over the open ground, which was constantly swept 
by machine-gun and artillery fire from both Hanks and front. The Boche had 
perfect observation. At 3:00 P. M.. the Battalion was ordered to effect a relief 
of the 316th Infantry on the southern slope of Hill 378. A battali(Mi of the 315th 
was to be in support. The relief was elfected about dusk, but a number of casual- 
ties occurred in spite of the fact that, as far as possible, the troops were moved up 
along the edge of the woods. A large number, necessarily, had to be kept in the 
open so no part of the sector would be unprotected. 






o 






o 
03 







fe.s 









•i -3 



^ 
5 



48 HISTORY OF 313th I . S . I A F A N T R \ 



Tlie 310tli were willi(lravvii and tlif 2d l'>altali(iri waited iVir morning lor llie 
final assault that would push the Bochc oil' Hill 378 lor good. There was now 
but one oHicer each to E and F Companies, while (i and H Companies had hut 
one olficer, Captain Luckie, of (i Company. 

The Boohe lire kept up during the night and the snipers were firing almost 
point blank from the woods at the right. 

During the night a heavy fog came up and ev(>n after dawn it was impossible 
to see seventy-live yards ahead. Shortly after daylight, under cover of the fog, 
the Battalion again attacked and jumped the hill and woods before the Boche 
could defend it. The lines had been so close during the night that some prisoners 
were taken within the Ameritan lines, where they had wandered by mistake. The 
morning's attack caught them unprepared and the lines had hardly started forward 
when a number of Boche weie captured in the Borne-du-Cornouiller. The attack 
was pressed and tlie Battalion moved on northward to the Sillon Fontaine Farm. 
Here it was decided to reorganize, and in the afternoon a further advance was 
made to the Claire-des-Chenes trenches on Hill 329. These were taken about 7:00 
P. M. and the lines established for the night. The Boche were holding in the woods 
across from the trenches and were protected by heavy bands of barbed wire en- 
tanglements in the gully. From their screened position they kept pouring a mur- 
derous machine-gun lire along the line held by th(! troops and especially along the 
road at the edge of the woods, which furnished the only means of communication 
with the rear where the aid stations, telephones, etc., were located. 

In the meantime, the 1st Battalion of the 313th Infantry had marched over 
from the right of the Division sector and came into the Bois de Consenvoye under 
a terrific shell fire, (^.ompany B alone suffered over twenty casualties coming up. 
The 1st Battalion moved up northward and took up a position which faced the 
Boche fine, running north and south, in the woods to the rear of the 2d Battalion. 

The next day, November 8th, the positions were straightened out, and with 
B Company attached to the 2d Battalion, a provisional regiment was formed by 
having one battalion of the 315th in support. The lines here faced north. Another 
provisional regiment was formed of the 1st Battalion (less B Company), who were 
still holding the w Is facing east, with a battalion of the .31,5th in support. 

Shortly after noon both provisional regiments moved out, the 2d Battalion 
and the Battalion of the 315th supporting it. swinging aroimd to the right so that 
it was facing east in a prolongation and to the left of the 1st Battalion line. The 
Boche had withdrawn all along the line, having had enough in that particular sector, 
and furthermore, a great push in an easterly direction was now going on further 
north. On thi' left of the 2d Battalion were some troops of a French t 'olonial Corps. 
The entire line kept advancing through the thick woods and underbrush, but no 
resistance was met. It was hard going, for every foot of the hills, ravines, roads 
and elaborate system of defenses, dugouts, etc., had to be examined for any lurking 
enemy. A couple of machine gunners were taken. They had deseited from their 
outfits and were waiting to give themselves up. 

Shortly bi'fore dusk the town of Beville was occupied by the 2d Battalion 
patrols and the main body took up a position on the hills facing the vast plains to 



HISTORY OF :5 13 th U.S. I N P^ A N T H Y 49 



the east. The French held over to the left and the 1st BattaUon were along the 
woods and hills to the right toward Etraye. Patrols were sent out a kilometer or 
more into the lowlands toward the retreating enemy, who were busily engaged in 
destroying ammunition stores in the distauice. During the night, which was quiet, 
orders were received by both battalions to report the next morning to the Com- 
manding Officer at Wavrille, over to the right in a southeasterly direction. 

Shortly after daylight, November 9th, the movement began, and just in time, 
too, for the Boche started shelling the hills with considerable accuracy. The short 
march was made with good fortune, but soon after arriving at Wavrille, the town 
was heavily shelled and a number of casualties occurred. The troops were moved 
back into an ex-Boche camp in the ravines and stayed there until about 4:00 P. \I., 
when both battalions started moving southward again to "Death \ alley" or Bois 
de Brabant, where they arrived about dusk and bivouacked for the night. Early 
on the morning of the 10th, orders were received to march to the woods near the 
Ormont Farm. The Regimental P. C. was established in a shelter, which had been 
occupied by the Boche a few days before. The ground showed the terrific fighting 
that had been going on here, and many dead Boche were lying with their full equip- 
ment on. They had been unable to get through the artillery fire that had been 
pounding them. All day long the two battalions lay in the woods at the edge of 
a clearing. The rolling kitchens came up and the troops were able to get some 
much-needed rest and hot food. They had been going for a number of days and 
been exposed to the wet and cold. Rumors of an armistice were in the air. but, as 
someone remarked. "The dove of peace must have gone A. W. 0. L." During the 
night the Boche put a few shells into the woods and sent considerable gas down 
into a gully, but fortunately very little harm was done. That night Major Gibbons 
received orders for the 1st Battalion to attack in the morning. The 2d Battalion 
was ordered to remain in the same position ready to support the 1st Battalion. 



CHAPTER XII 




N the iiu.niing of November Uth, at 6:00 A. M., the 1st 
liJattalion moved out of the position in which they had 
been since tiie preceding morning, with orders to make 
a demonstration or flani\ attack against the left flank 
of the enemy, who were holding the ( '.ote-de-Romagne, 
a high hill rising out of the swampy plains to the east. 
The Battalion moved out in the direction of Crepion, 
jiassed through the town and tocA up a position for 
the jump-off. The left flank of the Battalion was at 
tlie village of (^.haumont-devant-Damvillers, and the 
right flank at \ ille-devant-t"haumont. The Boche fire was very heavy and no 
sooner had the troops come into view than a barrage was put down. The Battalion 
kept pressing forward, the order being to "mop-up" any of the enemy who might 
remain in the villages or elsewhere. The soft, marshy ground was all that saved 
the Battalion from appalling casualties, as the shells sunk very deep upon impact, 
with the result that there was little dispersion of flying fragments. The bursts 
seemed to throw mud, water and iron straight up into the air. 

At sixteen minutes to eleven a runner fiom Regimental Headquarters caught 
up with the Battalion Commander with orders to cease firing at 1 1 :00 A. .M.. French 
time, hold the lines at the spot, and neither advance nor give way to the rear. 
The Armistice had been signed and fighting was to stop. The Battalion still 
pressed the attack vigorously and kept gaining ground, the artillery of both sides 
were firing rapidly, and the Ik)che were inflicting casualties with machine guns that 
were placed in depth along their front. At one minute to eleven, Private Cunther 
of A Company was killed while at tempting to rush a Boche machine gun. Promptly 
at eleven the firing ceased and all was quiet along the front. Somewhat dazed by 
the suddenness, troops rested on their arms in wonder. 

In the meantime, at 9:15 A. M., the 2d Battalion, back in the woods, had 
received orders to advance and vigorously attack the village of Ville-devant-Chau- 
mont, and to cease firing and dig in at 11 :00 A. M. The Battalion moved out over 
the roads that the 1st Battalion had gone down earlier in the morning. The shelling 
was heavy to the east and just ahead when eleven o'clock came. The head of the 
column had just reached the village of Crepion. and the troops were assembled 
there. It was hard to believe it was over and the (Jerman armies and nation 
crushed. 



CHAPTER XIII 




HE balance of November 11th seemed to impress differ- 
ent people in different ways. At first it seemed strange 
to be able to expose one's self without drawintr fire. 
The Boche was inclined to be friendly, but the men all 
obeyed strictly the order against fraternizing and did 
not pay any attention to the enemy, except that there 
was no relaxing of vigilance. Boche would always 
bear watching and everyone realized it. 

When night fell, the bright camp fires burning on 
both sides jiroduced a strange yet welcome sight. 
Later the Boche started sending up great quantities of rockets and flares by way 
of celebration. None who witnessed it will ever forget it. The best Fourth of 
July celebration seen in the past sunk into insignificance. After spending several 
days in the ruins of Crepion the 2d Battalidn went forwai'd and relieved part of 
the 315th Infantry who were holding the lines in front of Gibercy. In the mean- 
time, the 1st Battalion was holding the lines where the halt was made when the 
firing ceased on November 11th. The 3d Battalion was still in the vicinity of 
Ormont Farm, in Divisional reserve. 

During the next few days, a number of released prisoners, mostly Italians, 
came through the lines and the troops were busy feeding and escorting them in 
groups to a central point designated by the Division. 

The work of policing the area and collecting salvage was begun and then the 
1st and 2d Battalions were withdrawn from the front fine and established in German 
camps in the gullies between the hills in the vicinity of Moirey and Wavrille. 

On Sunday, November 17th, Colonel Sweezey rejoined the Regiment and 
resumed command. Colonel Rogers was assigned to other duties. On November 
20th. the Regiment started moving southward. The Regimental Headquarters 
had been established in the Citadel of Verdun. The 1st and 2d Battalions and the 
Machine (nm Company marched to a point on the east bank of the Meuse Canal, 
north of Thierville, and there were liilleted in dugouts that had been constructed 
and used by the French Army. The 3d Battalion was scattered over a large area — 
L Company to Abaucort to establish examining posts at Dieppe, Morainville and 
Abaucort, to collect repatriated civilians and ex-prisoners of war and ship them 
under guard to Caserne Neil, where M Company and Battalion Headquarters were 
located: K Company was located at Pave and I Company at Dugny, the latter 
to guard bridges between Dieue and Verdun and to forward the prisoners to con- 
centration points. Large numbers of prisoners were coming in and it kept all hands 
pretty busy. They were mostly Russians, some Serbians, Rumanians and Italians. 
All were more or less dilapidated and fatigued, for, in addition to any hard treat- 
ment they may have received while in the hands of the Germans, they had all been 
marching for many days. 



52 iiisToin OF :u:5th r. s. infantry 

After spoiuliiif; two days in the dugouts alony; tlu' Canal the 2cl Battalion 
niarrhcd to Dicuc and Les Monlharions, south of \ erdun, and look over a number 
of bridfjes to guard. ( i Company moved into the French stone barracks in \ erdun 
and established guards at the various gates and regulated trafTu' in the city. In 
fact, they practically functioned as Military Police. In the meantime, the 1st 
Battalion moved into the quarters vacated by the 2d. 

On December 2d the three companies of the 2d iialtalion moved north again 
to \ erdun and were billeted in wrecked houses practically all on one street. These 
were patched up and made very comfortable. Nearly every room iiad a fireplace 
of some sort. On December 2Ist the 1st Battalion moved into similar billets in 
the city, with the exception of A Company, which was at Caserne Neil guarding 
Russians. Major (iibbons, who had been evacuated the latter part of November, 
rejoined the Regiment and later resumed command of the 1st Battalion, which 
had been under the command of Major Monninger for several weeks, the latter 
having been attached to the Regiment. On December 2d. I Company moved from 
Dugny to Faubourg Pave near K Company. 

l^arly in December training schedules were published and, with the exception 
of companies on special duty, such as guarding bridges and prisoners, etc., close 
and extended order drills were the oicler of the day. Practice marches were made 
and soon battalion and company problems were inaugurated. Rifle ranges were 
selected and target practice at short ranges was begun. Later Corps Terrain exer- 
cises were held and an attack was made over practically the identical ground that 
had been captured from the Cermans the month before. This refers to Bois-de-la- 
Cirande \bintagne, etc. The training and |>robl('ms were to continue for the bal- 
ance of the winter. 

The stay in Verdun was very comfortable and the facilities for bathing were 
very good and everyone was able to get thoroughly clean. A great slaughter of 
cooties was made with the aid of the delousers. Y. M. C. A. canteen was estab- 
lished and cigarettes and cakes and some reading matter were obtained. There 
was also a Salvation Army canteen and the nearness to Bar-le-Duc made it fairly 
easy to obtain supplies. Things were indeed looking up and great preparations 
were made for (^.hristnias. Trucks were sent to Bar-le-Duc and Nancy for supplies 
and one to Paris for turkeys. Owing to a breakdown the latter did not get back 
in time for Christmas, but the birds were greatly enjoyed New Year's Day. 

Leave trains were taking away details from every company for a welcome 
change to Aix-les-Bains, and later leaves were granted to ofTicers. The lighting 
was over for good and schedules were worked out so that all men and oflicers would 
get away eventually. Later some trains went to Nice and other areas assigned to 
the American Army. 

On December 21st, A Company relieved M Company at Caserne Neil and the 
head(|uarters of the 3(1 Battalion and M C.onii)any were moved to Belleray. (Orders 
had been receixed to prepare a battalion to march in review before Presitlent Wilson 
at Montfaucon. The 3d BattaUon was selected and a provisional regiment, under 
the command of Colonel Sweezey, was organized to n^present the 79th Division. 
(Quarters were fixed up in the basement of the College Marguerite to accommodate 



HISTORY OF :n :'. T II is. I \ F \ \ T R Y 53 

the Presidential party, as it was understood tliat the President was to spend 
Christmas Eve in \erdiin. It was, therefore, disappointing to everyone when 
word came that the President's duties would not permit of his visit. 

The city of Verdun was interesting at all times and the sight of many visitors 
passing through made a pleasant change after the months spent in the field. The 
city was pretty thoroughly e\-plored by the troops and the wonderfully intricate 
system of galleries and underground chambers in the citadel was a never-ceasing 
source of wonder. Verdun and its surrounding forts form one of the most heavily 
fortified places on earth and to have had such ample opportunities to see and get 
to know the ground where the greatest battle of all times was fought will be even 
more appreciated by the members of the 313th Infantry as time goes on. Services 
were held Christmas morning in the great Cathedral which naturally had suffered 
considerable damage from the years of shelling. The chimes were rung for the 
first Christmas celebration since the war was started. Regimental band played in 
the squaie, near the market-place, where the rolling kitchens were preparing for 
the feast. Altogether, it was a most memorable day. It was not without regret 
that the news that all but the 1st Battalion were to leave Verdun and the vicinity 
was received. 



CHAPTER XIV 




HRISTMAS found all hands busy preparing lor the 
luaicli to the Souiliy area. On December 26th the 
Hegiinent, minus the 1st Battalion, which remained in 
\ erdun doing guard duty, marched to Souiliy, where 
the troops were billeted in the old hospital barracks, 
which were later occupied by Division Headciuarters. 
Next day the march was resumed and, in spite of rain 
and snow, everyone was exceptionally cheerful, as it 
was beginning to look like a step toward home. Regi- 
mental Headquarters, Supply Company, Machine (iun 
and Headquarters Company and the 3d Rattalion arrived at Seigneulles and the 
2d Battalion at Erize-la-Brulee on Decemlier 27th. 

After the towns were policed and billets fixed up the training schedule was 
again |Hit into effect, and drills, maneuvers, schools, etc., were carried on until 
about January 17th, when the Regiment moved to Coiide-en-Rarrois and the 
vicinity. Here Major Morris, who had returned from hospital, assumed command 
of the 2d Battalion, (^onde proved to be much the best town the Regiment had 
been in since leaving Champlitte. Two companies of the 3d Battalion were quar- 
tered in Cienicourt-sous-Conde; the Battalion Headquarters and the remaining 
companies, as well as the Machine Gun Company, were in Hargeville nearby. On 
February 3d the 1st Battalion left ^ Crdim and marched for two days, stopping at 
Souiliy overnight, aiul were finally billeted in new barracks. Camp Eslriennes, out- 
side of Rembercourt. The Regiment was practically assembled again for the first 
time in months. Training schedules were in effect again and an elaborate rifle 
range was constructed. 

About the middle of March, information was received that tlie whole Division 
would move shortly to the fourth training area between Neufchateau and Chau- 
mont. This involved a five-day hike, and on March 28th the Regiment moved 
out on the first lap of its long journey. That night all but the 1st Battalion were 
billeted in Longeville, where the Regiment had made its last stop in September 
befort^ going into the trenches. The 1st Battalion was quartered in Nai^ es and 
Rosieres. 

The next night Headquarters and most of the troops were at Stainvill(\ The 
weather all along had been cold and a good deal of snow and rain fell, adding much 
to the discomforts of the march. The following night the Headquarters were in 
Pancey and the companies were spread out in half a dozen small villages. The next 
day's march was a gruelUng one and part of the troops covered forty-two kilometers 
over roads heavy with mud and slush. It was a pretty exhausted crowd that lay 
down in hospital barracks at Rimaucomt that night. The 1st Battalion was bil- 
leted in Roches-sur-Rognon, several kilometers out of Rimaucourt. The spirit of 



HISTORY OF .n:5Tn I. S. INFANTRY 



the men was good, as they all felt each step was carrying them nearer home. The 
last day's march of about fifteen kilometers, from Rimaucourt to Lafauche, was 
made in the morning. 

Here Regimental Headquarters were established in the Chateau and all of the 
troops, excepting the Machine (iun Company, were quartered in the buildings of 
the U. S. Base Hospital No. 117. The Machine Ciun Company occupied the 
French Barracks, about one kilometer distant. The balance of the week was spent 
in fixing up the camp, building bunks, etc. 

On April lOth the Division passed out of the Second Army and came under 
the S. 0. S. Preparations were made for an early move toward the coast and on 
Sunday, April the 13th, the work of turning in excess equipment, transportation, 
etc., was begun. 

The first week at Lafauche was not the only one spent in polishing up, for 
shortly after arriving in the new area, word came that General Pershing would 
soon inspect and review the Division. Great quantities of shoe polish, brushes 
and pressing irons were bought, and never was so much elbow grease used in such 
a few days before. Company and battalion inspections and reviews, with and 
without the band, were almost hourly occurrences. Finally, after an all night's 
rain, Saturday, April 12th, dawned. All hands were up and about by 5:30 A. M., 
and 7:00 o'clock the column moved out. It poured all day and slickers had to be 
worn, which was disappointing, to say the least, as everyone was dressed in 
his very best and felt that no other organization could put up a better showing. 

In spite of inclement weather it was a great spectacle and the Commander-in- 
Chief expressed himself as pleased with the appearance of the men and seemed 
well satisfied with the information gained in answer to his numerous questions 
asked while inspecting the ranks. 

After the Commander-in-Chief completed liis inspection, he personally pinned 
the Distinguished Service Cross on the breasts of those who had won them, and 
then fastened the streamers, enumerating the actions in which the Regiment had 
participated, to the pike of the Regimental colors. At the close of the review. 
General Pershing addressed the assembled officers and thanked the Division for 
its work in the line, and impressed upon all the importance of America's part in 
the great conflict. 



chapte:r XV 




N Monday, April 21st. the 1st Battalion and Head- 
quarters Company marched to Rimaucourt and 
entrained for the area near Nantes wiiere most of the 
Division was to remain until final sailing orders were 
received. The 2d Battalion Supply and Machine Gun 
Companies marched to Rimaucourt on Thursday, 
April 21th. and were followed the next day by the 
1st Battalion. The entire Regiment was moved in 
three trains on different days to the new area, the trips 
averaging about forty-eight hours, but were far more 
comfortable than the long crowded trip of the previous summer, for the cars were 
not filled to capacity and all could easily lie down at the same time. 

The entire Regiment, less the 3d Battalion, was ordered to Cholet. a city of 
about 2.'},000 inhabitants, and the 3d Battalion went to Mortagne-sur-Sevre, a 
good-sized town situated about 10 kilometers away. The troops were comfortably 
quartered in both places, especially the 2d Battalion, which was assigned to the 



f: 




The 313th Jnfanln — Less 3(1 Batlalion— Standing Retreat in Cholel, May, l!tlU 



11 I S r () R ^ OF :5 1 :W H I . S . l \ F A N T R Y 



"S^^*' 




Major John EltiotI and Officers and Scrijeanls of llir Thin! BallaUon 



Caserne of the 77th French Infantry, a large stone building called the "Friedland 
Barracks," one of three in the post. Headquarters Company were in a permanent 
hospital at the other end of tlie city. Regimental Headquarters were established 
in an empty house on the main business street, and after the long winter in the 
muddy Meuse villages the dry stone pavements, hotels, cafes and theaters of 
Cholet seemed the acme of metropolitan luxury. 

The town of Cholet was in the Vendee or RoyaUst section of Fiance and was 
located about 40 kilometers south and east of Nantes. It was from this district 
some of the very best of Napoleon's men came, and in the Creat War the district 
furnished two of the crack corps of the French Army. The people were most 
hospitable and said the 313th Infantry was the first American comliat unit to be 
billeted there. Retreat was held each afternoon in the public square and the band 
also gave several concerts in the beautiful municipal park. A wonderful show- 
that would have done credit to the Keith circuit was given by the men in the 
municipal theater. The F'rench inhabitants fairly filled the house. 

Over at Mortagne things were going equally well and together with the fact 
that some real sunny, warm spring weather arrived things were looking up indeed. 

All was not play by a long shot, however, as the many details of preparing the 
paper work and securing and issuing new clothing preparatory for the required 
inspection before orders to proceed to St. Nazaire would be received, made plenty 
of work. 



58 



H I S I' () IM OF :', 1 :5 T H U.S. INFANTRY 



(Jn Sunday, Ma\ 4th. the Rcjrimcnt was inspected by S. O. S. ofliiials. but they 
refused to pass it for transportation home on account of minor deficiencies in 
equipment. Lack of toilet articles seemed to be the principal complaint, but on 
Sunday. May 11th, when the next inspection was held not one man was shy so 
much as a piece of shaving soap. In the meantime, the 2d Battalion had been 
moved to Trementines, as the French required the Caserne. 

On Tuesday, May 13th, the Headquarters and 1st Battalion loft Cholet by 
train for St. Nazaire; the ."id Battalion entrained at Mortagne the same day. 
On Wednesday, the I4th, the 2d Battalion entrained at Trementines and picked 
up A Company at Cholet, the latter having been left behind to polish up. Here 
also the Supply Company and all others left behind on detail were entrained. 
Finally on the evening of Wednesday, May 1 Ith. the entire Regiment was quartered 
in the various camps that go to make up the great embarkation center of the 
Americans just outside of St. Nazaire. 

Here things were humming and together with paper work, delousing, physical 
examination, etc., the best part of the day and night was passed. There were plenty 
of rumors as to just when and in what vessel or vessels the Regiment would sail, 
but it was not until Thursday, the 1.5th. that orders from the Embarkation Service 
were received, that part of the Regiment would go by the Paysaiidti on the same 
afternoon. iNIajor Elliott, who was designated as Commanding Officer of troops, 
went aboard and also all of I Company, who were to furnish the necessary details 




lli'nil<iuiirliTX ('(int/xiiiy ul ('.lintfl 



HISTORY OF :n:5TH I .S. I N F A N T IM 59 

and guards. The next day, Friday, May 16th, the entire 2d BattaHon and K, M 
and Machine Gun Companies went aboard, making a total of 1351 men and 27 
ofTicers. On account of lack of space a number of the 2d Battalion ofilcers had 
to be left back to proceed home with the rest of the regiment. 



chapt?:r XVI 




BOLT 1 P. M. on May 16th the Puysandu put out 
to sea and the Antigone, formerly the North German 
Lloyd Liner Neckar, of 9835 gross tons, was desig- 
nated to take the remainder of the Regiment, consist- 
ing of Regimental Headquarters. Headquarters and 
Supply and L Companies and 1st Battalion com- 
plete. This vessel was somewhat delayed in arriving 
and it was not until Sunday, May 18th. that she 
finally sailed. 

The Paysandii which was formerly the old 
Hamburg South American Steamer Bahia of 1817 gross tons and 19 years old, 
was not in very good condition, as she had been laid up for years in South 
America and it was impossible to get any speed out of her. She was only 375 feet 
long and had no cargo in her and pitched and rolled constantly, causing a great deal 
of seasickness. 

But both ships" companies were better off as to meals and quarters than on 



.1 







lli(i<l<liiiirl<'r.i i'.oniimny 
In Fiirctironnil Cohir-SiTijmiil I.cidllch and Colors. Phoki taken al Newport News immediately 

after Landiny from Transport "Aidiyone" 



HISTORY OF :u:Wh I 



INFANTRY 



61 



the Leviathan, and with plenty of 
time on deck for all hands and 
three meals a day the tedious days 
passed. The Paysandu had most 
of the Regimental theatrical talent 
aboaid and the Anligune the band, 
so shows and concerts were given, 
also the ships carried moving pic- 
ture outfits and combined with the 
boxing and wrestling bouts there 
was some sort of amusement a good 
part of the time. The barbers 
were doing a rushing business all 
the way across, as everyone natu- 
rally wanted to be as spruced up 
as possible for the homecoming. 
On board the shi[)s themselves the 
high spirits of all seemed to put thi' 
war with all it entailed pretty far 
behind. 

Finally on Thursday. May 29tii. 
the Antigone steamed into Hampton 
Roads and df)cked at Newport 
.News amid great whistling and all 
manner of noises made by friends 
and relatives of the men who had 
been anxiously awaiting the ship in various sorts of chartered harbor craft. 

The work of disembarking was quickly accomplished and the troops marched 
about three miles to Camp Stuart. Here the good people of Maryland had made 
elaborate preparations for feeding everyone and the men were much surprised and 
delighted with it all. As in France the order of the day was delousing, issuing 
cotton clothes and other articles, paper w(jrk and then some, and finally the troops 
were separated into groups according to their home States and some were trans- 
ferred to Camp Hill nearby as casuals. This was the beginning of the breaking up 
of the Regiment. 

On Sunday night, June 1st, the Paysandu dropped anchor oif Old Point 
Comfort, and the troops disembarked the next morning at Newport News and pro- 
ceeded to Camp Stuart and joined the rest of the Regiment. The same evening 
the detachment which arrived on the Antigone sailed for Baltimore on the 
Steamer Essex which had been chartered by the home folks. After discharging 
the men in Baltimore, where the reception the troops gf)t resembled a riot, the 
Essex steamed back to Newport News and picked up the remainder of the 
Regiment shortly after midnight on June 3d. 

About 2:00 P. M. on Wednesday, June 1th. the Essex arrived at Baltimore 
amid a repetition of the din of whistles from vessels and factoiies and cheers from 




Col. Sweezev Walihiiuj Ihr Ufhiirkulidii frimi 
Trnnsf)iirt. Jiiiu; l!H9 



r 



V r 



lit -'^ ■ 















HISTORY OF 31 :? T H U.S. INFANTRY 63 

the people quite the equal to that received by the first contingent. With the help 
of the police the crowds gave way just barely enough to let the entire Regiment 
form on streets outside the piers and the parade to the 5th Regiment Armory via 
Baltimore, Howard and N. Charles Streets started. 

Probably never in history were any troops coming home from a war more 
truly acclaimed by their people. It was a wonderful demonstration of the way 
Baltimore and Maryland felt. The men in line were practically all Marylanders, 
as those from other parts of the country had been sent to their home districts from 
Newport News. 

It was a holiday in Baltimore by the Mayor's proclamation and it looked as if 
everyone had turned out. At the Washington Monument the Governor of Mary- 
land and Mayor of Baltimore and (ienerals Kuhn and Nicholson, who had come 
from New York together with other distinguished guests, formed the official 
reviewing party. Colonel Sweezey was given a tremendous ovation all along the 
line as he led the Regiment. A caisson banked with flowers in memory of those 
who had given their lives led the column and a large service flag showing the num- 
ber of dead and wounded followed close behind. 

I pon reaching the 5th Regiment Armory all hands were dismissed until 
early the next morning. Here a great banquet had been prepared by the Knights 
of Columbus. At the Armory many of the men and officers who had been sent 
home wounded were waiting and many friends met here for the first time since 
parting on the field. 

During the forenoon of Thursday, June 5th, the entire Regiment entrained 
for Camp Meade and by early afternoon all were quartered in the same camp where 
the Regiment had been formed and trained for the war. 

The work of making out the necessary records for demobilization immediately 
commenced and as fast as the Companies could be physically examined and paid 
off the men were discharged. This continued until Tuesday, June lOth. when the 
last Company was discharged. 

The officers became casuals on this date and some were given fifteen days' 
leave prior to discharge. Some were immediately discharged. 

The 313th Infantry had ceased to exist, leaving "a record throughout its 
entire career to which its members may look back with pride and pleasure," to 
quote the words of Major General Ruhn, Commander of the 79th Division. 



AWARDS 

AND 

GENERAL ORDERS 



Awards for Valor 

The following ofTicers and men of the 313th Infantry were awarded the 
Distinguished Service Cross: 

Major Horatio N. Jackson. Regimental Surgeon 
Major Effingham B. Morris. Jr. 
Chaplain John Carroll Moore 
First Lieutenant Royal C. Johnson 
Sergeant Harry E. Forrest 
Sergeant Ernest W. Hitchins 
Corporal George L. Brown 
, Private Roland W. Abrams 



Posthumously awarded D. S. C. 
Captain Harry Ingersoll 



Posthumously. Certificate of Merit, for Gallantry in Action 
Major B. Franklin Pepper 



General Orders 

The following is an extract from an official order issued by Colonel Win. C. Rogers (tempo- 
rarily in command of the 313th U. S. Infantry) on October 28th, 1918, at Verdun, France: 

"Every member of the 313th Infantry belongs to an organization which has already 
made a fighting record of which a \ eteran regiment wouKl be proud. Your imiform and 
equipment may show the unavoidable results of hard fighting, yet stand erect and 
.salute — salute like the soldier you are, a soldier of the 313th Infantry! Do you 
know that the 313th was first 'Over the Top' and tfie Regiment which took Mont- 
faucon.''" 



The following is a copy of Field Message received by the C. O. 2d Rn. 313th Infantry, on 
the morning of November 11, 1918, in the field: 

From — Incite eleven 

At —P. C. 30.1—81.2 

Date— 11— 11— 18 Hour 9:1.5 No. 1 Runner 

To — Incited one 

You will proceed and attack VILLE-DEVANT-CHAUMONT; hostilities will 
cease on the whole front at 11 H. lo-day French time. Until lliat hour tfie operations 
ordered will be pressed vigorously. At 11 Hour lines will lialt in place and no man will 
move one step backward or forward. He will stay exactly where he is. ,\11 men will 
cease firing and dig in. In case enemy does not likewise suspend firing — firing will be 
resumed, but no further advance will be permitted. No fraternization will be allowed. 
Rrigade and other commanders concerned are charged with the important duty of trans- 
mitting these orders to troops and securing their strict enforcement. Rockets or other 
signals may be used to notify front line of the arrival of 11 H. Just as soon as possible 
after 1 1 H. determine exact tract of front line by co-ordinates and indicate exact position 
of flanks liaison groups and notify these hdqs. at once. 

Incite Eleven 

Do not forget to send us information of what happens. The 26th Division will be 
on your right, the 1st Rn, 313th on your left, 

Rradlee. 



The following general order was issued by the Conmianding General of the 1.57th Infantry 
Rrigade on November 15, 1919: 

HEADgUABTERS, 157tH InF.^NTRV BRIGADE 

.\merican Expeditionary Forces 

15th November, 1918. 
General Orders 
No. 1 

I. The cessation of hostilities on 11th November, 1918, found the troops of this command, 
as heretofore, well out in advance of the troops on our right and left and conquering the enemy 
over the most diflicidt terrain. 

II. The Brigade Commander wishes to express to the officers and men of his command his 
admiration for the courage, resourcefulness and cheerful devotion to duty, under conditions not 



()!{ 1 1 1 S 1() H ^ OF :n :$ T [1 l . S . I M F a N T H ^ 



always the brightest or easiest, which they have always displayed in performing the tasks assigned 
them, and to tell them of the great confidence in them that he has at all times entertained. 

III. This Brigade has participated successfully in two attacks against the enemy and 
behaved in each one true to the standard it had set for itself, a standard which the Brigade Com- 
mander had learned long ago to expect as a matter of course. 

IV. Experienced and proved soldiers of this Brigade, your General is proud to command 
you and wishes to taki' this oppcirtiinity to congratulate all ranks on their achievements, to 
thank them for, and share with pride in their contribution to the causes for our enemys surrender. 

V. This order will be copied for distribution in companies, will be read to the troops at the 
tirst formation after its receipt, and published for two days thereafter on Company bulletin boards. 

W. G. N1CHOL.SON, 
Brigadier General, U. S. A. 



Headquarters, 79th Division 
American Hxpeditionary Forces 

April ITth, 1010. 
Ciencral Orders 
No. 25 

I. The following lellir, dated .\i)ril llith. from the Conmiandcr-in-Chief to Division Com- 
riiaiider is published for the information of the conunands: 

American Expeditionary Forces 
Ollice of the Commander-in Chief 

France, April 13th, 1919. 
Majob-General Joseph Kihn. 
Commanding 79th Division, 

American Expeditionary Forces. 

My Dear General Kuhn: 

It afforded me great satisfaction to inspect the 79th Division on April 12th, and on that 
(x'casion to decorate the standards of your regiments and, for gallantry in action, to confer medals 
upon certain officers and men. Your transportation and artillery were in .splendid shape, and 
general appearance of the Division was well up to the standard of the American Expeditionary 
Forces. Throughout the inspection and review the excellent morale of the men and their pride 
in the record of their organizations was evident. 

In the Meuse-Argonne offensive the Division had its full share of hard fighting. Entering 
I he lines for the first time on September 26th as the right of the center corps, it took part in the 
beginning of the great Meuse-Argonne offensive. By September 27th it had captured the strong 
position of Montfaucon, and in spile of heavy artillery reaction, the Bois de Beuge and Nantillois 
were occupied. On September iiOlh it was relieved, having advanced ten kilometers. It again 
entered the battle on October 29th. relieving, as part of the 17th French Corps, the 20th Division 
in the Grande Montague sector to the east of the Meuse Hiver. From that time until the armistice 
went into effect, it was almost constantly in action. t)n November 0th, Crepion, W avrille and 
(iibercy were taken, and in conjunction with elements on the right anil left. Etraye and Moirey 
were invested. On November 10th Chaumont-devant-Damvilliers were occupied and on No- 
vember 11th, Ville-devant-Chaumont was taken, a total advance of 9' 2 kilometers. 

This is a fine record for any division and I want the officers and men to know this and to 
realize how much they have (ontributed to the success of our arms. They may return home 
Justly proud of themselves and of the part they have played in the American Expeditionary Forces. 

Sincerely yours, 

,I(U1N .1. PEBSHINfi. 



HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY M 



Headquarters, 313th U. S. Infantry 
American Expeditionary Forces 



4th May, 1919. 
General Orders 

No. 27 

I. Pursuant to instructions contained therein, the following communication received by 
the Rcffiriiental (^omniander from the Commanding General of the Division is published to the 
conmiand for their information: 

1. On eve of the departure of the 79lh Dixision from France to the United States, the 
Division Commander desires to record his appreciation of the services of the 313th Infantry. 

2. Throughout its career it has uniformly demonstrated a high order of combat efficiency 
under your leadership. First put to the test in line in the Avocourt Sector, two companies 
demonstrated their mettle by successfully repelling two enemy raids, one made in large force, 
with selected shock troops accompanied by heavy artillery preparation. During the Jirst phase 
of the Meuse-Argonne offensive it fell to the lot of the Regiment to attack the enemy's justly 
dreaded stronghold of Montfaucon, which it gallantly overran after a severe struggle. On 
.September 29, 1918. although exhausted and depleted by its previous efforts, the Regiment 
again took up the front line under n galling artillery fire and reached the farthest point of the 
advance of the Di\ ision in front of the Bois de Cunel. 

3. During the last phase of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the Second Battalion of the Regi- 
ment was largely responsible for the exploitation of the success of the capture of Hill 378, and by 
its advance beyond this liill and lireaking through the enemy's Claire Chene trenches in forcing 
his withdrawal from the heights north of Verdun. 

1. The record of your Regiment throughout its entire career is one to which it may look 
back with pride and pleasure. The Division Commander desires that you make known to your 
Regiment his appreciation of its fine services. 

By order of Colonel Sweezey: Thomas G. Bradlee, 

Captain, 313th U. S. Infantry, Adjutant. 



70 



HISTOin OK :n:iTii U.S. INFWTRY 



2nd Battalion 313th U. S. Infantry 



CO. F STATIONS— SINCE AHRIVAL IN FRANCE 



Station \iibivkl> 

Brest ^. July 15. 1918 

IMarcenay " " 21, 1918 

Chainplitte " 29, 1918 

CyritTos September 9, 1918 

Loiifjeville ; " 10, 1918 

Verrier Sector (:U) I) ' " 13, 1918 

Foret-de-Hesse " 22, 1918 

Montfaucon " 26, 1918 

Foret-(le-He.sse October 1, 1918 

Ni\e\ille " 1,1918 

Cenicourl-sur-Meiise " I, 1918 

Mouilly " 6. 1918 

Troyon .Sector " 7,1918 

lUipt-i-nW ocsre " 23, 1918 

Verdun " 28. 1918 

Foret-de-Chana " 29. 1918 

Cote-de-Roche " 30. 1918 

Grande Monlat,'ne November .">. 1918 

Fort-de-Helle\ ille " 21, 1918 

Dieue-sur-Meuse " 23, 1918 

Vertlun Decemlier 2, 1918 

.Souilly " 26, 1918 

Erize-la-Rrulee " 27, 1918 

Conde-en-Barrois January 17, 1919 

Lonftevillc March 28, 1919 

Stainsville " 29, 1919 

Ellincourt " 30, 1919 

Rimaucourt " 31, 1919 

l.afauche April 1, 1919 

Himaucourt " 21, 1919 

Cholet " 26, 1919 

Trementines ' May 10, 1919 

St. Nazaire " 14,1919 



Dkp. 


VRTEI) 


July 


18, 1918 


" 


29. 1918 


Septembe 


r 8. 1918 


" 


9, 1918 


" 


12. 1918 


u 


22. 1918 


U 


2.5, 1918 


a 


30, 1918 


October 


3, 1918 


u 


I, 1918 


" 


6, 1918 


" 


7, 1918 


" 


23, 1918 


" 


27, 1918 


tl 


29, 1918 


(( 


30, 1918 


November .5, 1918 


" 


21, 1918 


" 


22, 1918 


December 


2, 1918 


" 


26, 1918 


" 


27, 1918 


January 


17. 1919 


March 


28, 1919 


" 


29, 1919 


H 


30, 1919 


U 


31, 1919 


April 


1, 1919 


" 


24, 1919 


ti 


21. 1919 


May 


10. 1919 


" 


14, 1919 


u 


1.5, 1919 



The Lorraine Cross 



Story of the 
79th Division Insignia 



The Gross of Lorraine 

Its Origin and Significance 

Written from Data Furnished by 



E. F. HENRI VJARD 

B. A. Paris University 

f.ate London Correspondent of " Le Journal ' 

Some/irne Teehnieal Translalor to tlie 

Ordnanee Department, A. E. F. 



The Lorraine Cross, ojjicial emblem of the Serenly-nintb Divi- 
sion, United Slates Army, was adopted shortly after the armistice was 
signed. 

In all its war operations, the Serenly-ninth Dirision faced the 
enemy in Lorraine, the province which the Inited States was pledged 
to win Ixick for Fraiwe. 

Victory, in the face of stubtiorn opposition, crowned the efforts of 
the Seventy-ninth Division. It was only appropriate, therefore, that 
the division should select as its emhkm the ancient .'^ymhol of vich)ry, 
the Lorraine Cross. 



The Cross of Lorraine 



^^,,A,_r-H-.^^_, 



A 



^^?gg;.^oaaas. 



NATIONAL emblem of the independent Duchy of Lor- 
raine for centm-ies, and even now a distinctive cogni- 
zance of the Border Province of France, the double 
traverse cross, known as the Cross of Lorraine, forms 
part of the armorial bearings of no less than 163 noble 
families. And several military units engaged in the 
war just ended adopted the cross as an emblem. 
These units include, besides the Lorraine Detachment 
of the French Army, the Seventy-ninth Division. 
Before its adoption as an emblem by the reigning 
house of Lorraine, the double traverse cross, now known as the Lorraine Cross, 
had a long and interesting history. Important in the history of the develop- 
ment of the shape of the cross with its two beams, the design being Byzantine 
and emblematic of the triumph of Christ over Death, are ancient double traverse 
crosses, each containing fragments of the Real Cross of the Crucifixion. They 
are preserved in different sections of France. 

The double tra\ erse of the Cross of Lorraine comes from the substitution, for 
the Titulus, or inscription originally used to mark the Cross upon which Christ 
was crucified, of a plain horizontal arm. The origin of the double traverse cross is 
Eastein, and. students of the subject point out. it undoubtedly represents the 
Jerusalem Cross — the True Cross — with its main horizontal Ijeam and the Titulus, 
represented by a plain beam in the Cross of Lorraine. 

Reli(iuaries containing parts of the Real Cross upon which the Savior was 
crucitieti. including the reli(iuaries in Poitiers and Limoges, are double traverse 
in form. On an enameled plate in the Treasury of Graz Cathedral, Hungary, 
the figure of Saint Helena, credited with the recovery of the True Cross, is repre- 
sented draped in a dress which is emblazonetl with a double traverse cross. 

The double traverse cross is found on seals of the Kingdom of Hungary and 
the emblem, in its form, has been called the Cross of Hungary. Monsignor Danke, 
a Canon of (iraz Cathedral, states that the double traverse cross on the seals of 
the Kingdom of Hungary dates from Andrew II, who was the father of Saint 
Elizabeth, and adfis that it is emblematic of the apostolic dignity of the Hun- 
garian kings. 

The double traverse cross came to have its association with Lorraine in 1477 
after Rene II. reigning head of the Duchy of Lorraine, had defeated Charles the 
Bold, Duke of Burgundy, at the Battle of Nancy. Rene was of the house of Anjou 
and the emblem had been known as the Cross of Anjou to earher members of the 
house. 

Succession to the Duchy of Lorraine came to Rene II thru the female Une. 
His mother was Yolande of Anjou. daughter of Rene 1. riuii his father, Fcrri 



HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 75 



of \ audemont, Rene claimed descent from the ancient dynasty of the Dulses of 
Lorraine, who traced their history to Gerard of Alsace, and who had ruled the 
Duchy uninterruptedly for almost four centuries. 

At the time of the accession of Rene II, the neighboring Duchy of Burgundy 
was ruled by Charles the Bold, who had made a reputation as a general and war- 
rior. In the forwarding of his ambition for greater territory and more widespread 
authority, he had roused the enmity of Lorrainers. In 1476, following the acces- 
sion of Rene II, the Duke of Burgundy laid siege to Nancy and took the city. 

Rene went abroad to hire troops, and, returning in the early days of 1477 with 
considerable forces, especially Italian and Swiss mercenaries, gave battle to Charles 
witliin sight of Nancy, whose soldier citizens sallied forth to his help. Despite 
their assistance, Rene might have lost the fight had it not been for Canipo Basso, 
an Italian condettiere in the service of Charles the Bold, who, having some grudge 
against the latter and being Ijribed by the other side, went over to the Lorrainers 
at the critical moment. 

The Burgundians were cut to pieces. Charles the Bold, in trying to break 
away, was slain by a Lorraine officer who did not recognize him and who com- 
mitted suicide when, the body of the famous Duke having been identified a couple 
of days later from an old scar behind the ear. he realized that it was he who had 
kiUed " so great a Prince." It might seem strange that the body of the Duke of Bur- 
gundy should have remained unidentified for any time. The explanation is that 
the Swiss and Italian mercenaries and, indeed, the Lorrainers, were out for booty. 
The Duke's rich accoutrements were a tempting loot. 

The Battle of Nancy was not only the greatest event in the history of Lorraine, 
but one of the most momentous in the history of France and even of Flurope, 
although, perhaps, the whole scope of its effects has not been brought out ade- 
(luately by liistorians. If Burgundy alone was defeated, three parties benefited 
by the victory, namely, Switzerland, for whom it meant final acciinsition of 
independence; the King of France, and the Duke of Lorraine. The disappearance 
of Charles the Bold ensured at one stroke the Unity of France, which it rid of the 
last ever-powerful vassal, and the independence of Lorraine. No doubt Louis XI 
would rather have been the only profiteer by the death of his rival. No doubt, 
also, he meant to get hold of Lorraine and, as the event proved, laid hands shortly 
afterwards on the Duchy of Bar and tried to prevent Rene II from coming into 
this comparatively small portion of Rene Anjou's inheritance. But his wily plans 
were foiled by the very fact that, whatever his motives, he had made a show of 
fostering and supporting the Lorrainer against the Burgundian. Had Lorraine 
become a part of Charles the Bold's dominions, even the Mighty House of Austria 
would have been unable to keep it independent from France; Henry II's efforts 
would have been exerted against Lorraine, and Lorraine it is that France would 
have occupied at the same time as the three bishoprics, Toul, Mctz, and ^'erdun, 
and before Alsace. France's influence made itself felt in the Duchy as early as 
1552. but annexation was put off until 1766. 

Not only did Rene H's reign ensure the independence of Lorraine, but it 
secured the adjunction of Barrois, for there can be no doubt that the Duchy of 



76 1 1 I S I" ( ) II Y () F :5 I :5 T u IS. IN F A N T 1^ 'i 

Bar would have been annexed to France right away had not Charles \ 111 found it 
politic to give back the territory confiscated by his father Louis XI as an induce- 
ment to Duke Rene II not to press his claims regarding such parts of Rene of 
Anjou's inheritance as Anjou and Provence which F'rance wanted and secured 
out of the deal. 

Considering the importance of the l:)attle of Nancy in the eyes of Lorrainers, 
the historical value of the badge worn by their victorious ancestors at that famous 
fight is easily understood. 

That badge was a double traverse cross. We have Duke Rene H's own word 
for it. In the account of operation and conduct of the battle of Nancy, dictated 
by the Duke himself to his secretary Joannes Lud, we read: "And I had on my 
harness a robe of gold cloth, and the armour of my horse was also covered with gold 
cloth trappings and on the said robe and trappings were three white double traverse 
crosses." 

The reason why Rene II adopted the badge is apparent from what has been 
said in previous pages. The Burgundian badge was the St. Andrew Cross. To 
dilfcrcntiate his men from their opponents, Rene 11 naturally thought of the 
conspicuously distinct double traverse cross his grandfather Rene I hatl brought 
over from Anjou and made so much of. 

In another account of the Ijattle, to be found in the Chronicle of Lorraine, 
written at very nearly the same time, the following passage occurs relating to the 
period of the fight when Campo Basso and his mercenaries went over from the 
Burgundian to the Lorrainer side. "They all tore oif their St. Andrew crosses 
and put on the .Jerusalem one, which Duke Rene was wearing." 

The Jerusalem Crt>ss obviously is a misnomer, as proven by the context, the 
very next sentence of which reads: "And many of the Nanceans, sallying from 
their city to take part in the pillage of the Bold One's Camp, were in great danger 
of being slaughtered by the Swiss and by their own Countrymen because they 
had not the double traverse cross on them." Again in several other passages the 
cross is specifically described as a double traverse cross. 

Curiously enough, the misnomer has not been made out by many of the 
writers and artists who have described or depicted the battle wliere Charles the 
Bold met his fate. In Mr. Pfister's exhaustive history of Nancy, for instance, 
a plate is reproduced from the Nanceid, an epic on the subject of the great fight, 
and on tliat plate Bene II is portrayed wearing a nundjer of Jerusalem crosses on 
his robes and horse trappings. 

The two above-cpioted documents, the Duke's own statment and the iterative 
mention in the Chronicle of Lorraine put it beyond question that the crosses worn 
b\ Bene 1 1 and his men were the double traverse cross he had got from his grand- 
father. 

Jaiuiary .5, 1177, was the birthday of the Cross of Lorraine. F'roin that day 
ceasing to be merely reminiscent of \ujiiu. the double traverse cross became the 
Lorraine National Emblem. 

Joan of \i\\ the " (Jood Lorrainer," as Mllon calls her, is commonly represented 
\^ith the Loiraine Cross emblazoned on hei- brcaslpjate. P)ut the Maid of Orleans 



?1 1 STORY OF 3 1:5 Til r.S. INFANTRY 77 

lived from 1 U2 to 1131, and the Anjou double traverse cross was brought to 
Lorraine by Rene I only in 1435. It never was a Lorraine badge until 1 177, when 
Rene II originated it as such at the battle of Nancy. 

For the sake of accuracy it may be mentioned here that it has been contended 
that Joan of Arc was not a Lorrainer, her birthplace belonging to Champagne at 
the time. Even as early as \ illon, however, as shown by quotations, she was held 
to be a Lorrainer, and a Lorrainer she will remain in popular imagination to the 
end of time. 

Since the war in 1870-71, which resulted in the annexation of part of Lorraine 
to Germany, a significant use has been made of the old cross. Shortly after the 
signature of the Treaty of Frankfurt, a meeting of the inhabitants of Metz was 
held on Sion Hill, which Academician Barres calls, in one of his books, " Inspiration 
Hill." As a result of the meeting, a marble monument was erected, having carved 
on it a broken Lorraine Cross. An inscription in local dialect was added reading 
"C'name po tojo" (""Twill not be forever"). 

Some of these days, now that the whole of Lorraine is French again, another 
immense meeting probably will be held on Sion Hill to celebrate the fact that the 
prophecy has come true. 

And the American soldiers who have helped in making it come true, especially 
members of the Seventy-ninth Division, will, when they hear of the celebration 
across the water, look at the old badge they have been privileged to wear and 
think of the memories associated with it. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



020 915 422 5 



